On Thursday James R. White, director of strategic issues for the Government Accountability office, testified before Congress on tax credit for first time home buyers. Included in the paperwork he submitted is a state-by-state breakdown of people who so far have claimed the first-time homebuyer credit.

Maryland is low on the list of per-capita claims, ranking 34th in the country, with 23,831 buyers claiming the credit as of Aug. 22. Total credits claimed for Maryland came to $166.2 million, or less than $7,000 per house on average. The failure of many Maryland buyers to max out the credit to $8,000 seems to indicate they are buying inexpensive shelter, especially for Maryland. Condos, maybe. To get $8,000 in credit you only have to spend $80,000 on the dwelling.

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