Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Home Ownership Can Become A Reality With The Down Payment Assistance Programs Florida Provides

By Carolyn Stewart


Every day the dream of home ownership seems to get more elusive for those who have never experienced it. Groceries, utilities, school supplies and tuition are among the monthly expenses that are always on the rise. A number of state governments are addressing this issue in an effort to help. Qualified home buyers can take advantage of any one of the numerous down payment assistance programs Florida has available for instance.

The Hardest Hit Fund, or HHF, is aimed specifically at those who have been most affected by the recent economic downturns. In 2017 this state is offering residents of certain counties help with earnest money in an amount up to fifteen thousand dollars. The types of acceptable housing includes single family, town homes, and condominiums with prior approval. You must get a thirty year mortgage at a fixed rate.

An option for anyone who lives in this state is the conventional HFA preferred loan. You can receive up to seventy-five hundred dollars to assist with earnest money or closing cost. Co-signers are not accepted, and all approved applicants must go through an educational course on home buying. Discounted mortgage insurance is available for qualified home buyers. These loans are not available to investors. You must be an owner occupant.

The FHA with Florida Assist program offers a total of seven thousand five hundred dollars for a down payment or closing. Your credit score must be at least 640, and you are required to pass a home buying course. No cash back at closing is allowed.

Even those with somewhat higher incomes can get assistance through the program called Conventional HFA Preferred Plus Loan. The first time home buyers qualification is waived for veterans. This program does not assist with a flat amount. Instead it gives purchasers a grant of three percent of the purchase price. Applicants have to attend and complete an educational course as with the other programs. Not all of the counties in Florida are included in this program.

There are matching grant plans that will match the buyer at a four to one ratio up to five thousand dollars. You must be a first time home buyer and contribute at least one thousand dollars. There are income and purchase price limits to qualify. These grants are available throughout Florida, and it will accept new home, foreclosure, and town home loans.

If you are a teacher, firefighter, law enforcement officer, or healthcare worker, you might quality for one of the matching funds programs that offer a maximum subsidy of seventy-five hundred dollars. Other first responders and current or retired military personnel can also take advantage of the subsidy.

These are only a few of the programs offered each year. If this is something that interests you, you can get more information online, or you can call the state. Applying is free, and you are not obligated to accept a loan offer from the state.




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