A. You can qualify as a first-time homebuyer even if you’ve owned a home in the past. As far as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is concerned, you’re a first-time homebuyer if, “you had no present interest in a main home during the 2-year period ending on the date of acquisition of the home which the distribution is being used to buy, build, or rebuild. If you are married, your spouse also must meet this no-ownership requirement.”