With blessings from the Obama administration, the Senate now appears likely to pass a bipartisan compromise extending and expanding a tax credit for homebuyers.

First, however, it must break a partisan stalemate over what other amendments might be offered to a pending bill that would extend unemployment benefits for 14 weeks in all states and six additional weeks in states with jobless rates above 8.5 percent.

Max Baucus , D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, announced details of the compromise on the homebuyer’s tax credit, which Johnny Isakson , R-Ga., a leading advocate, said he expects to see attached to the unemployment bill.

The deal would extend the $8,000 credit for first-time homebuyers for sales contracts entered into by April 30, 2010, and closed within 60 days. It would also add a $6,500 credit for some owners of existing homes as long as they have been in their homes for five consecutive years in the past eight,

The income cap would be raised to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples, up from $75,000 and $150,000, respectively. An earlier version of the compromise would have increased the cap to $250,000 for married couples.

In a floor speech, Baucus said, “We would help first-time buyers and we would also help home owners looking to move up to a new home. But we would exclude from the credit speculators who may have recently purchased a home, intending to flip it for a fast profit.”

Isakson had sought to expand the credit to all homebuyers and double the income limits for qualifying buyers but said Thursday he was “absolutely” satisfied with the compromise language.

Republicans have been pushing for other amendments to the jobless benefits bill, including some targeting the community group ACORN and requiring broader use of the E-Verify system, which allows employers to check potential employees’ immigration status.