  Using finite-temperature determinantal quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we
examine the thermodynamic properties of the extended Hubbard model on the
half-filled square lattice in the Slater regime at intermediate coupling. We
consider both the case of nearest-neighbor interactions and long-range Coulomb
interactions, for coupling strengths in which the presence of non-local
interactions still allows us to perform sign-problem free quantum Monte Carlo
simulations. In particular, we assess a recently proposed scenario from
variational calculations in terms of a first-order metal-insulator transition
in this interaction regime.
