The tax credit allows many young couples, like Mike and Katie Arends, to save thousands of dollars just a year after the housing market crashed.

"The tax credit came around, and the market started to lift a little bit. We'd had a year to recover and Katie's father really starting pushing us to do this," said Decker.

Sen. Sherrod Brown played a role in getting the federal tax credit extended to next April. He points out Ohio now ranks in the top 10 states that have benefited.

"It's the right thing to do for Katie and Mike.  And equally importantly it's the right thing to do for the neighborhood, community and economy as a whole," said Brown.

The Columbus Housing Partnership says neighborhoods where houses had been condemned are now turning around.

"You know our housing market was pretty slow a year ago before the tax credit was implemented.  It's really helping think about buying a house now," said Amy Klaben, CHP President.

Brown believes that as the housing market recovers, so will the rest of the economy.

Officials at the Columbus Housing Partnership say while not everyone qualifies for the tax credit, many young working couples can still qualify until next April, reported ONN's Jim Heath.

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