Online House Hunting - Do you have to have a house sale finalized by Nov 30, 2009 in order to qualify for $8K tax credit?

Do you have to have a house sale finalized by Nov 30, 2009 in order to qualify for $8K tax credit?

Do I have to have a house under contract by November 30, 2009 or do you need you closing finalized by NOV 30. in order to qualify for $8K tax credit?

The irs is using the closing date. A contract won't count.
The property purchase must CLOSE before you are eligible. No closing, no tax credit. Thousands of contracts are going belly-up, primarily because the buyer did not have adequate funds and therefore the mortgage financing went belly-up.
Not just "under contract." You must CLOSE on the house (title must transfer) by 11/30/09.
Must close on or before November 30 to qualify.
Just to be safe, yes I would. But frankly I think they will extend this program.