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Senate likely to extend homebuyers' tax credit

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she also is interested in extending the homeowner credit.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she also is interested in extending the homeowner credit.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • $8,000 credit for first-time homebuyers was part of stimulus bill
  • Senate has tentative deal to expand credit, add credit for existing owners
  • Some current homeowners would get $6,500 credit if they buy a new home
RELATED TOPICS
  • Real Estate
  • Tax Policy

Washington (CNN) -- Senate leaders have reached a tentative deal to extend the first-time homebuyers' tax credit that was originally passed earlier this year as part of the stimulus bill, Republican and Democratic sources told CNN on Wednesday.

The agreement would extend and expand the credit to include current homeowners who want to move, according to the sources.

The original credit in the stimulus bill is set to expire at the end of November and offers a tax credit of $8,000 to first-time homebuyers.

Senate sources told CNN they have tentatively agreed to extend that $8,000 credit for first-time buyers until the end of April. In addition, they are adding a $6,500 credit for some current homeowners who buy a new residence by then.

To qualify, current homeowners must have lived in their primary residence for five continuous years.

Senators have not agreed on how the tentative deal would come up for a vote, but sources from both parties said they are considering adding the housing credit to a bill that would extend unemployment benefits.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she also is interested in extending the homeowner credit, but House leaders have yet to endorse any one bill.

CNN's Ted Barrett, Dana Bash and Lisa Desjardins contributed to this story.