Do you really think giving a 10% credit, up to $8000, on the purchase of a first home is allowing people to buy a home they can't afford? Lenders now require 20% down and the buyer does have to be able to afford the payments (using the debt/income ratio) The days of people buying houses they can't even come close to affording are over. That's why it puzzles me that some of you are upset over programs designed to jumpstart failing industries.