We've all (hopefully) heard of the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers --- if you haven't owned a home in the past three years you can receive $8,000 if you buy one by November 30th of this year (6.5 months to go).

But yesterday, the HUD Secretary announced that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a downpayment! 

More details will be forthcoming -- check with your lender in the coming weeks to see how this might work for your situation.