By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

The federal tax credit program that benefits home buyers generated some busy days at the Erie County Clerk's office.

How busy?

This past Friday, the office handled paperwork for 190 real estate transactions - the highest number for a single day since 2003, according to Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul.

Friday was a "perfect storm," she said. Typically, the last Friday in June is one of the busiest days for closing real estate deals, especially residential transactions. That's the day when many families want to close on their new homes in order to be eligible for enrolling in new school districts.

June 30 also was the hard deadline for home buyers to receive federal tax credits. First-time buyers can receive tax credits up to $8,000, while move-up buyers are eligible for $6,500 in federal tax breaks. The contracts had to be written and signed by April 30 and closed by June 30.

On a typical Friday, the clerk's office handles 60 to 80 real estate closings, Hochul said. Most years, the number balloons to 110 on the last Friday in June.

"This year's big number is clearly because of the tax credits," she said.

To handle the crunch, Hochul had all 13 payment office clerks working on Friday and authorized overtime, if needed.

It wasn't.

She said all transactions were processed and handled by 5:30 p.m.

"That's a tribute to the people working on the front line," she said.

Hochul said she expected closing activity in her office to remain busy through Wednesday.

On a typical Tuesday, her office may handle 60 closings. Based on early-morning interviews, she said it would handle as many as 200 closings June 29 and the same number on June 30.

"I've got law firms sending over their runners to secure tables and places in line, and it's not even lunchtime," she said.

Her staff was ready for the final drive to meet the closing deadline. Overtime was authorized and all hands were on deck.

"No one is going to lose their tax credits because of the Erie County Clerk's office," Hochul said. "We will do whatever it takes to make sure anyone who needs to close by Wednesday does."