No Foolin’…April is the Last Month for the Home Buyer Tax Credits

April 1st – better known to most as April Fools Day. On April 1st it’s not only acceptable to play practical jokes and other devious pranks on your coworkers and friends, but it is expected! Ever wonder how such a strange tradition came to be? Well, no one really knows for sure how April Fools Day came about as there are many possible references to the holiday that date all the way back to the 14th century. However, one theory that I though was of particular interest involves the French and New Years Day.

New Years Day was not always on January 1st. Prior to 1582, New Years was celebrated for an entire week, the week of March 25 through April 1, with April 1st being the actual New Years Day. When the French calendar moved New Years from April to January, not everyone was on board with the switch. Those who refused to acknowledge the calendar change and continued to celebrate the new year for an entire week unofficially claimed the title of “fool” and became subject to ridicule. Citizens would send these fools elaborate invitations to fake New Years parties as well as play other practical jokes on them. Over the years, everyone had come to accept January 1st as New Years Day, but the harassment had already evolved into the annual custom of prank-playing that we know today.

Bowen Family Homes wants to remind you that  April 1st might be a good day for jokes, but don’t be an April fool and let the opportunity to claim the home buyer tax credit pass you by. There will not be an extension this time around, so if you do not have a contract down on your new home by April 30, 2010, then you have missed out on the chance of receiving the $8,000 or $6,500 credit just for purchasing a home. It can take longer than you would expect to get a home officially under contract, so do not wait until the last minute on this. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to receive over $5,000 from the federal government just for purchasing a house, so you may as well take advantage of it.

Find more homebuyer incentives at Atlanta Real Estate Forum.