DownPayment Assistance Programs

Are you tired of making your landlord rich? Do you want to own a home of your own? Do you need help with your down payment or closing costs?

THEN TAMPA BAY CDC IS THE KEY
TO MAKING YOUR DREAM A REALITY!!

Tampa Bay CDC is a HUD-approved non-profit organization whose mission is to promote homeownership opportunities for low to moderate income households in the Tampa Bay area. If you are looking to purchase a home in Pinellas County or within the City limits of Clearwater and Largo and you meet the income and eligibility criteria, we may have funds available to assist you with your downpayment and/or closing costs.

HOW CAN I GET ASSISTANCE?

            Tampa Bay CDC
            2139 N.E. Coachman Road, Suite 1
            Clearwater, FL 33765

You can also fax the application only to (727) 451-3323. Please note that faxed applications will not be processed until the income certification fee is receive

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME?

                                                                                                                   

INCOME LIMITS FOR 2011

                                                                      

    

HOW DOES TAMPA BAY CDC CALCULATE INCOME?

What is included in income?

It means the total current annual gross income (before taxes and withholdings) of the purchaser and ALL adult members (who are 17 or older) residing or intending to permanently reside in the household. This includes spouse, fiancé, parent, relative, adult child, roommate, friend, etc.

CO-SIGNER REQUIREMENTS: If a non-occupant co-signer will be used, their income is NOT included in the household income for eligibility for downpayment assistance. The co-signer must complete a form which certifies that they will not reside in the property and that they will not contribute income to the household.

PLEASE NOTE: Per state guidelines, NON-OCCUPANT CO-SIGNERS CANNOT TAKE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY OR BE LISTED ON THE TITLE OR WARRANTY DEED.

THE CALCULATION OF ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME BY TAMPA BAY CDC WILL DIFFER FROM THE CALCULATION OF INCOME BY THE FIRST MORTGAGE LENDER.

Tampa Bay CDC DOES NOT look at prior earnings. Instead, income is based on current earning levels, and it must be annualized and projected forward for the next 12 months.

INCOME MUST BE VERIFIED IN WRITING by an employment verification form that Tampa Bay CDC will send to all employers. Annual income will be calculated using current earnings unless the employment verification form shows that a raise will be received within the next 12 months. In these cases, annual income will be calculated at the level expected after the raise is received.

TAMPA BAY CDC IS REQUIRED TO CONSIDER ALL SOURCES OF INCOME FROM ALL ADULTS WHO WILL RESIDE IN THE PROPERTY (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LENDER IS USING THE INCOME TO QUALIFY YOU FOR THE FIRST MORTGAGE).

This includes, but is not limited to the following:

WHAT TYPE OF FIRST MORTGAGE MUST I OBTAIN?

ALL BORROWERS MUST OBTAIN A 30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGE. Tampa Bay CDC is prohibited from assisting borrowers who are obtaining first mortgages which:

WHAT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO ME?

LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE

Tampa Bay CDC’s loan amount (as shown below) will be reduced at closing if the borrower is receiving any cash back. CASH BACK AT CLOSING IS NOT PERMITTED by Tampa Bay CDC’s funding sources - under any circumstances!!

a) Unincorporated Pinellas: $5,000

b) City of Largo: $5,000

c) City of Clearwater: Minimum of $14,000

*If the Borrower's income is below 50% MFI or if the property is located within a city-identified target area, additional assistance will be available.

INTEREST RATES

Interest Free.

REPAYMENT TERMS

a) Unincorporated Pinellas: No payments for the first 5 years. After 5 years, the loan begins to be repaid for a period of 5 years. Maximum payment is $83.33.

b) City of Largo: Assistance loans are due when the property is sold or rented, or when the mortgage is paid, refinanced, or assumed.

c) City of Clearwater: Assistance loans are due when the property is sold or rented, or when the mortgage is paid, refinanced, or assumed.

PROPERTY LOCATION

The property being purchased can be located ANYWHERE IN PINELLAS COUNTY EXCEPT within the city limits of ST. PETERSBURG.

To verify the jurisdiction of a property, call the Property Appraiser’s Office at (727) 464-3207 or visit their website at: http://www.pcpao.org/.

ELIGIBLE PROPERTY TYPES

Single family residences, condominiums, or townhouses.

INELIGIBLE PROPERTY TYPES

2-4 family homes, rental properties, co-ops, manufactured and mobile homes, and properties built prior to 1978 that have peeling or chipping paint are ineligible under this program. If the property being purchased is occupied by a tenant who will be displaced so the loan can close, Tampa Bay CDC is unable to provide assistance. If the property is located within the city limits of Largo, it cannot be located in a flood zone.

INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

All properties must meet Section 8 Housing Quality Standards (HQS). An inspection is required to verify that the property meets applicable safety/code requirements.

Tampa Bay CDC will order a Section 8 Safety/Code Inspection (from a City/County approved inspector). There is no charge to you for this inspection.  If any of the Section 8 Standards are not met, these must be completed/corrected and re-inspected prior to closing. Click here to go to the "Inspection Procedures” established by Pinellas County, and the Cities of Largo and Clearwater.

City of Clearwater properties only; For homes built prior to 1978, the city will order a lead paint inspection. There is no charge to you for this inspection.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS CITY/COUNTY CODE INSPECTION DOES NOT REPLACE THE NEED FOR A HOME INSPECTION! You are highly encouraged to hire your own inspector to perform a detailed home inspection. If you choose to do so, this will be at your expense.

NEWLY BUILT PROPERTIES

Certificates of Occupancy must be provided in lieu of the Inspection Report.

BORROWER REQUIREMENTS

a) Unincorporated Pinellas County: The borrower is not required to be a first time homebuyer. It is preferred that the borrower not own property at the time of application. If the buyer does own a property, Tampa Bay CDC must verify that this property will be sold or rented (with a copy of either the lease or closing statement), and that the new property being purchased will be the buyer’s primary residence. If the buyer will be leasing the property, the full amount of monthly rent must be included in annual household income. If the borrower has previously received down payment assistance from Pinellas County, they are ineligible to receive assistance again.

b) City of Largo: The Borrower must be a first time homebuyer who has not owned a principle residence within the past 3 years.

c) City of Clearwater: The borrower is not required to be a first time homebuyer to qualify for assistance, but they cannot own a property at the time of application. In addition, if the borrower has received assistance from the City within the past 5 years, they are ineligible to receive assistance.

BORROWER CONTRIBUTION

a) Unincorporated Pinellas: A 2% contribution must be made. 1% of the contribution can come from gift funds and the other 1% must come from the borrower’s own funds. If no gift funds are being used, the borrower must contribute the full 2% from their own funds.

b) City of Largo: The City will require the same contribution amount as the Lender, and it can come from any course that is acceptable to the Lender (i.e. from Assistance, from a gift, etc.) If the Lender is not requiring the Borrower to contribute any funds, that will be acceptable to the City of Largo.

c) City of Clearwater: The borrower must contribute 2% of the sales price towards the loan. This must be from their own funds and cannot be from a gift or costs paid by the seller.

”DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP” WORKSHOP

You must attend a County-approved Homebuying Workshop prior to closing. A copy of the certificate must be provided to Tampa Bay CDC. PLEASE NOTE: ONLINE COURSES OR TELEPHONIC COURSES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. If the certificate is over 12 months old, the borrower must attend another workshop.

THE CERTIFICATE RECEIVED AT THE WORKSHOP IS NOT AN APPROVAL FOR DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE OR FINANCING. All borrowers must still complete an application and meet the applicable County, City, or State eligibility criteria.

For a schedule of Tampa Bay CDC’s 2011 “Dream of Homeownership” Workshops, click here.

CITY OF LARGO- BUDGETING CLASS REQUIRED: For Borrowers who are purchasing a property within the city limits of Largo, a Budgeting Workshop is also required. The Buyer must register for the Budgeting Program prior to closing by calling (727) 461-0618 and this Bugeting Program must be completed as soon as possible, buy no later than six months after closing. If not completed within that timeframe, the Assistance Loan will be immediately due and payable.

TITLE COMPANY REQUIREMENTS

The title company must be located in Pinellas, Pasco, or Hillsborough County. Due to funding issues, Tampa Bay CDC cannot provide assistance if the title company is located out of the area or out of the state.