Imagine a couple in early 2010 who had lived in their starter home for six years. They were ready for more space but hesitant to buy while the market was so volatile. The new law offered them a —a "step-up" incentive that previously only applied to first-time buyers. To qualify, they had to navigate strict federal rules:
: Their joint modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) had to be below $225,000 to receive the full credit. The Benefit and the Paperwork long time homebuyer credit 2010
For this couple, the $6,500 acted as a "second chance" at government aid. Unlike the original 2008 credit, which was essentially an interest-free loan that had to be paid back over 15 years, the 2010 version was a . This meant if they kept the home for at least 36 months, they never had to pay it back. However, the process was notoriously complex: Imagine a couple in early 2010 who had