Solar Home Financing

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. If you have specific questions or need additional information, please contact a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040.
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Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?

• First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
• Current home owners purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

If you or your client purchased a home between January 1, 2009 and November 6, 2009, please see: 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Which Properties Are Eligible?

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Is Available?

The maximum allowable credit for first-time home buyers is $8,000.

The maximum allowable credit for current homeowners is $6,500.

How is a Buyer’s Credit Amount Determined?

Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by tow additional factors:

1. The price of the home.
2. The buyer’s income.

Price

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.

Buyer Income

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is effective on November 7, 2009,  single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

These income limits have changed from the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit limits. If you or your client purchased a home between January 1, 2009 and November 6, 2009, please see 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?

Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.

The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Can a Buyer Still Qualify If He/She Closes After April 30, 2010?

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?

No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during this three-year period, the full amount credit will be recouped on the sale.

Public-Private Investment Program for Legacy Loans
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Legacy Loans Program?
In order to cleanse bank balance sheets of distressed loans and other assets and reduce the
associated market overhang, the FDIC and Treasury are launching the Legacy Loans Program. The
FDIC will provide oversight for the formation, funding, and operation of new public-private
investment funds (“PPIFs”) that will purchase loans and other assets from depository institutions.
The Legacy Loans Program will attract private capital through an FDIC debt guarantee and
Treasury equity co-investment. Private market equity investors (“Private Investors’) are expected to
include but are not limited to financial institutions, individuals, insurance companies, mutual funds,
publicly managed investment funds, pension funds, foreign investors with a headquarters in the
United States, private equity funds, and hedge funds. The participation of mutual funds, pension
plans, insurance companies, and other long term investors is particularly encouraged. The FDIC
will staff operations relating to the formation, funding, and operation of PPIFs and will work with
participant banks, the Treasury, Private Investors and contractors to administer the asset pool
auctions. The Treasury will be responsible for overseeing and managing its equity contribution in
the PPIFs, while the FDIC will be responsible for overseeing and managing its debt guarantees to
the PPIFs.
What is the structure of the Legacy Loans Program?
Individual PPIFs will be established to own and manage each pool of assets that is sold from
participating banks. With predetermined asset pools, the FDIC will conduct asset portfolio auctions
with private bidder participants to determine the most attractive bid and ultimate purchase price.
An independent valuation firm will provide valuation advice to inform the Legacy Loans Program
in its bidder selection. Through the Legacy Loans Program, the FDIC will provide a debt guarantee
to the PPIF, and the Treasury will provide co-investment equity to the PPIF alongside private
market investor equity. For each asset pool transaction, the Legacy Loans Program will determine
appropriate leverage levels and equity funding based on the unique asset pool profile. Treasury will
consider alternatives for its capital contribution that do not diminish the pari passu sharing of profits
and losses, the collateral protection securing the FDIC guarantee, and capital neutrality compared
with the currently contemplated investment. Consistent with EESA requirements, the Treasury will
have warrants in the PPIFs.
The exact requirements and structure of the Legacy Loans Program will be subject to notice and
comment rulemaking
What are the primary benefits of the Legacy Loans Program?
These programs are designed to provide taxpayers with benefits associated with the public-private
partnerships. By applying market-based pricing to the asset purchases, the PPIFs will ensure that
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purchases are at prices that give taxpayers and private investors substantial opportunities to benefit.
In addition, by offering a structure that allows banks to clear these assets off their books, the PPIFs
will complement other government programs designed to enable greater lending and restore
economic growth. These programs will help open lending channels by facilitating a market for the
distressed assets currently clogging the system. The equity contribution from Treasury provides the
foundation for this program and the benefits to taxpayers. The financing support provided by the
FDIC, under the Legacy Loans Program, and the Federal Reserve, under the Term Asset-Backed
Securities Loan Facility (TALF), will provide the liquidity that has been missing from the market so
far to achieve these purchases for the public
What is the FDIC’s role in the Legacy Loans Program?
The FDIC will provide oversight for the formation, funding, and operation of new PPIFs that will
purchase loan and other asset pools from participating banks. Such functions include approving the
asset pools from the participating banks, determining asset pool leverage levels, and conducting the
auctions. In addition, the FDIC will provide credit support for PPIF debt financing through a debt
guarantee issued by the PPIF. The FDIC will be responsible for managing such PPIF debt
guarantees. In its broad oversight function, the FDIC will ensure that both the FDIC and the
Treasury are provided with sufficient asset pool data to effectively oversee the investment pools.
What is Treasury’s role in the Legacy Loans Program?
The Treasury will invest alongside the private sector initially targeting 50 percent of the equity
position in each PPIF in a non-controlling position. In addition, the Treasury will be responsible for
overseeing and managing its equity position in PPIFs.
What is the private investor’s role in the Legacy Loans Program?
The private investor will provide 50 percent or more of the PPIF equity capital (subject to a
minimum government subscription right to be determined).
What assets are eligible for the Legacy Loans Program?
Loans and other assets from depository institutions under criteria established by the FDIC are
eligible. Participant banks must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Treasury and the FDIC that
the contemplated asset pools qualify based upon Treasury and FDIC agreed upon minimum
requirements.
How will Treasury’s equity investment be counted against the limit on Treasury’s purchases
of troubled assets in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act?
The purchase price of the Treasury equity investment in the PPIFs will count against the $700
billion cap.
Will warrants be issued as part of the structure?
As required by the EESA, the Treasury will be receiving warrants in the transaction.
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How will the PPIFs’ debt be structured?
The PPIF will issue debt that is guaranteed by the FDIC. This debt will initially be placed at the
participant bank. The participant banks will be able to resell this debt into the market if they
choose. PPIF leverage will not exceed a 6 to 1 debt to equity ratio and will vary from pool to pool
based upon analyses performed by the FDIC with input from a Third Party Valuation Firm. The
FDIC will provide a debt guarantee collateralized by PPIF assets and charge a debt guarantee fee, a
portion of which will be allocated to the Deposit Insurance Fund.
Where does the Legacy Loans Program obtain operational funds?
The FDIC and the Treasury will be governed by a cost sharing arrangement. The FDIC will be
reimbursed for its expenses incurred in the FDIC’s program oversight function. Ongoing
administration fees will be paid to the FDIC by PPIFs. In exchange for a debt guarantee, the FDIC
will charge the PPIFs a debt guarantee fee, a portion of which will be allocated to the Deposit
Insurance Fund.
When will a Legacy Loans PPIF close its first loan or asset pool purchase?
The FDIC will be seeking public comment and communicating with stakeholders expeditiously.
The FDIC will launch the Legacy Loans Program as quickly as possible.
What type of financial institution is eligible to participate?
Banks of all sizes will be eligible to participate in the Legacy Loans Program. Participant banks
must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDIC that the contemplated asset pools qualify based
upon the FDIC’s minimum requirements.
How will banks decide which assets to sell?
Identification of individual asset pools will be an iterative process, involving input from
participating banks, as well as primary federal banking regulators. In addition, banks will approach
the FDIC with potential asset pools.
Who will bid for the assets?
Potential Private Investors will be pre-qualified by the FDIC to participate in an eligible asset pool
auction. Joint bids from pre-qualified investor groups are acceptable, but group/investors will be
prohibited once the auction process begins to maintain fairness.
Will the Legacy Loans Program be subject to executive compensation restrictions?
The executive compensation restrictions will not apply to passive Private Investors.