The Mankato housing market sees a bump heading into what is normally a slow time of year for home sales.Local real estate experts are crediting the government's First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit with boosting sales.The program offers up to 8-thousand dollars for qualifying buyers.Chad Borgmeier says, "It is enticing people to purchase homes. It is helping first time home buyers, which is then turning those people into buying other homes. So it is helping the domino effect."According to the Blue Earth County's Assessor's office, 449 homes were sold in the market in 2008, a dramatic decline from 2007. After a slow start to 2009, 215 home sales have closed so far this year.The incentive is set to end November 30.The government says the program has been so successful, it is considering extending it.