I'm trying to buy a home, and am looking into the Mortgage Credit Certificate. However I usually get a tax refund of a few thousand. Would the MCC be a good option?

[KlestonD]

I guess I should also state, I have no idea if/when I might move to a different house, and I am currently single so I do expect income to go above the threshold for the MCC within a few years, and due to the properties location, it's resale value is high and I'd expect it to increase 10% or more within the 9 year time frame.

[Cynthiad66]

I cannot give financial advice however there is a Tax Credit available with this certificate.  

A MCC is not a tax deduction, but rather it provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to recipients to increase housing payment affordability. In some cases, MCCs can also help borrowers who might not otherwise qualify for a loan by reducing their net monthly mortgage payment.

Information about Mortgage Credit Certificate from FDIC

You can claim the credit only if you were issued a qualified Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) by a state or local governmental unit or agency under a qualified mortgage credit certificate program.

For the latest information about developments related to Form 8396 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/Form8396.