Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Internal Revenue Service says more than 14,000 Oregonians have taken advantage of the federal government's first-time home-buyers tax credit so far. 

The tax credit of up to $8000 is available to people who have never owned a home or who have not owned one in the past three years.

The program -- part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- is still going on – but the deadline is approaching, says IRS spokesman Bill Brunson.

Bill Brunson: "You must purchase the item before December 1st and it must be your principle primary residence in the U.S."

Brunson says the first-time homebuyer credit is fully refundable. This means that even if you owe no tax, you can get a refund.