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Michelle D. Leonard - Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor

Local Grant Programs
It is just flat-out WRONG to
think that you need a lot of money to buy a home today.

The truth is, there are many government & private programs to assist buyers with money for down payment and closing costs. Some are grants that you never pay back. Some are home-equity loans with no interest and no payments and paid back only when you transfer ownership of the home. And some are fully forgiven after a set period of time. There are also a number of creative financing options that will minimize or eliminate the amount of money needed from you to purchase a home. We will cover some of these examples here.

Sometimes it makes sense to use some of these programs even if you have the money for closings costs. For most people, even if they can pay for their own closing costs, they have little left over for furniture, repairs or decorations. And then what happens? They go out and get a loan or use high interest rate credit cards to buy those items. The better way may be to use some of theses programs to pay for the closing costs and use your cash to pay for the home improvements. Please take a look at the information below to see which program may be helpful in your search for a new home.
There are many resources available throughout Philadelphia, Chester COunty, Delaware County and Montgomery COunty in Pennsylvania to help people achieve the american dream of homeownership. If you want to work with a realtor who will guide you through the process contact Michelle Leonard you can reach her at www.MichelleLeonard.com
HomeStrengthsm Funds: Funds equal to 4% of the sales price are provided to pay for your closing costs & pre-paid items. This 4% assistance is a silent second mortgage with no interest, no payments and can be completely forgiven if you stay in the home for 10 years and keep your 1st mortgage loan in good    standing. These funds are only given in connection with the HomeStrengthsm Zero Down 1st mortgage loan.

How it works:  Sales price                                            $175,000.00
                         Typical closing costs & pre-paids                7,522.00
                         Total costs                                           $182,522.00
                         Subtract HomeStrength 1st mortgage      -175,000.00
                         Subtract HomeStrength Funds                -    7,000.00  
                         You need only                          $    522.00

This is an excellent way to buy a home for qualified buyers. There are some rules and restrictions on who may take advantage of this program. Here is some of the highlights:

1. Income limits: $68,800 total annual household income.
2. You do not need to be a first time buyer but you can not own any other real     estate at the time of closing. So you could sell your present home and by a new one on the same day.
3. You must have GOOD credit.

Please contact the administrator of the program, GMAC Mortgage, at 1-800-553-4622 ext 3254 or 215-682-3254 for all the details.

Please Click Here if you wish to get Pre-Approved for this program online.


PHFA Closing Costs Assistance - up to $2000

This is an interest free, payment free 2nd mortgage that is NOT forgiven but is only paid when you transfer ownership of the home, refinance or move out of the home.

These funds are only given in connection with the PHFA Keystone Plus Home Loan. The good thing about this loan is that it carries a super low 30 yr fixed rate.

Qualifications:    You must be a First Time buyer or have not owned a property in the last 3 yrs. You must either have a qualifying dependent or be disabled. Your credit must be acceptable for the type of financing you apply for.
                           
If you are buying in Bucks, Chester, Delaware or Montgomery counties:

                               Your total annual household income cannot
                                exceed $51,000 for a family of 2 or $59,000 for a
                                family of 3 or more.
                          
                          
           Sales Price cannot exceed $140,000 for an
                               existing home or $180,000 for new construction.

If you are buying in Philadelphia;

                                Your total annual household income cannot
                                exceed $60,000 for a family of 2 or $71,000 for a
                                family of 3 or more.
                           
                                Sales Price cannot exceed $150,000 for an
                                existing home or $190,000 for new construction.
                            
                                For all loans, you must meet the basic eligibility
                                requirements for the loan type for which you are
                                applying.

                                This loan can be FHA, Conventional or VA.
                                Minimum down payment is 2.25% for FHA,
                                3% for Conventional or 0% for VA.

PHFA does not lend the money directly but works through authorized lenders such as GMAC Mortgage. If you would like more information on this program or would like a FREE, no obligation Pre-Approval, please call 1-800-553-4622 ext 3254 or 215-682-3254.

Click Here if you would like to apply online.


OHCD  (Office of Housing & Community Development) Grant - $800

This is a true grant. Basically they give eligible home buyers $800 to pay towards their closing costs. There are some restrictions:

1. You must be a first time buyer.
2. You can not sign a sales agreement until you have met with one of the counselors.
3. You annual income can not exceed the following income limits for your family size:       
                             1    -    $38,550               5   -   $59,550
                             2    -    $44,050               6   -   $63,850
                             3    -    $49,550               7   -   $68,250
                             4     -   $55,050               8   -   $72,650

http://www.phila.gov/OHCD/


Bucks County PA Home Buyers Housing and Grant Programs
Bucks County Housing Group Closing Cost Assistance

First-Time Homebuyer’s Program - Up to $10,000 assistance.
Established to aid low- and moderate-income households interested in purchasing homes in Bucks County, the Program assists eligible participants with closing costs by providing a no-interest second mortgage. Although funds borrowed through this program are not "forgiven", they must be repaid only upon the resale of the home, upon the refinancing of the home, or upon the transfer of the title. Funding for this program is limited and is dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility
• Applicants must currently be residents of Bucks County (having lived
    in the county for at least six months).
• Applicants must be "first-time" homebuyers; they cannot have had
    an ownership interest in a principal residence for the past three years.
• Applicants must have households of two or more persons; individuals  
    may not participate in the program, unless they have a
    serious disability.*
• Applicants must fall within the parameters established by the County
    with respect to household size and income:

Income Limits for 2008

Household Size

Maximum Income

1*

$46,489

2

$53,048

3

$59,703

4

$66,358

5

$71,663

6

$76,967

7

$82,272

8

$87,577

Applicants must purchase a property located in Bucks County. The First-Time Homebuyers’ Program places restrictions on the maximum price of homes.  The purchase price may not exceed HUD Section 203(b) maximum single family mortgage limits.

• Applicants must contribute a minimum of three percent of the purchase
    price of the home from the borrower’s own assets.
• Applicants must be able to pay the prepaid portion of settlement costs
    and excluded fees (including but not limited to real estate taxes,
    per diem interest on the loan, homeowners insurance, and
    escrowed funds).
• Applicants must complete the First-Time Homebuyer's counseling
    program administered by the Bucks County Housing Group. The
    counseling program begins with a Homebuyer's workshop; click here for
    current schedule.  

Sherry Pace
Bucks County Housing Group
2324 Second Street Pike, Suite 17 ● Wrightstown, PA 18940
Phone: 215-598-3566 ● Fax: 215-598-9812
email:
info@bchg.org

Visit our website: http://www.bchg.org/

BUCKS
www.buckscounty.org
 
Bucks County Housing Authority
350 S. Main St., #205
Doylestown, PA 18901-0967
Donald E. Grondahl, Executive Director (215) 348-9469
Services offered: Rental housing and Section 8
 
Bucks County Housing Development Corp
9187 New Falls Road, Suite 203-L
Fallsington, PA 19054
(215) 295-1443
www.buckshousing.org/index.php
Services offered: Provides affordable housing opportunities to low-income elderly and low to moderate income families.
 
Bucks County Housing Group
2324 Second Street Pike, Suite 17
Wrightstown, PA 18940
(215) 598-3566 or info@bchg.org
http://www.bchg.org/
Services offered: First Time Home Buyer Program and Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program
 
Bucks County Department of Community and Business
Neshaminy Manor Center
1260 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
Vitor A. Vicente (215) 345-3844 or mailto:business@co.bucks.pa.us
Services offered: HOME Program, Housing Trust Fund Program, Housing Rehabilitation Program, Brownfields for Housing Program, and Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program

Chester County PA Home Buyers Housing and Grant Programs
CHESTER
www.chesco.org
 
Housing Partnership of Chester County
41 West Lancaster Avenue
Downingtown, PA 19335
(610) 518-1522
www.housingpartnershipcc.com
Services offered: First Time Home Buyer Program, Credit Counseling, Housing Rehabilitation Program
 
Chester Housing Authority
1010 Madison Street
PO Box 380
Chester, PA 19016-0380
Steven Fischer, Executive Director (610) 876-5561
www.chesterha.org
Services offered: Rental housing and Section 8
 
Housing Authority of Chester County
30 W. Barnard Street, Suite 2
West Chester, PA 19382
Tonya Mitchell-Weston, Executive Director (610) 436-9200
www.haccnet.org
Services offered: Rental housing and Section 8

Delaware County PA Home Buyers Housing and Grant Programs
DELAWARE
www.co.delaware.pa.us
 
Delaware County Housing Authority
1855 Constitution Ave.
PO Box 100
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Lawrence E. Hartley, PHM, Executive Director (610) 876-2521
www.dcha1.org
Services offered: Rental housing and Section 8
 
Delaware County Office of Housing & Community Development
600 North Jackson Street, Suite 101
Media, PA 19063
John Pickett (610) 891-5425
Services offered: Community Development Block Grants, HOME Program, Emergency Shelter Grant Program, and Homeownership First Program

Montgomery County PA Home Buyers Housing and Grant Programs
MONTGOMERY
www.montcopa.org
 
Montgomery County Department of Housing & Community Development
1430 DeKalb Street, PO Box 311
Norristown, PA 19404
(610) 278-3540
Services offered: First Time Homebuyers Program, Employer Assisted Housing Program, American Dream Downpayment Initiative
 
Montgomery County Housing Authority
104 West Main Street, Suite 1
Norristown, PA 19401-4716
Joel Johnson, Executive Director (610) 275-5720
www.montcoha.org
Services offered: Rental housing and Section 8

Philadelphia PA Home Buyers Housing and Grant Programs
PHILADELPHIA
www.phila.gov
 
Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development
1234 Market Street, 17th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Deborah McColloch, Acting Director (215) 686-9749
www.phila.gov/ohcd
Services offered: American Dream Downpayment Initiative and Settlement Assistance Grants
 
Philadelphia Housing Authority
12 South 23rd St., 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Carl Greene, Executive Director (215) 684-4174
www.pha.phila.gov
Services offered: Rental housing and Section 8
 
Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1600
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Rick Sauer (215) 732-5829
Services offered: Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund

Below are counseling agencies that can help you obtain this grant. Please call them to make an appointment with one of the counselors.
ACORN Housing
Corporation of PA
Mount Airy USA
George Butts Farah Jimenez
(215) 765-1018 (215) 844-6021
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars

Asociacion de Puertorriquenos
(APM)

New Kensington Community
Development Corporation
Rose Gray Annette Czajka
(215) 235-6070 (215) 427-0350 Ext.109
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars

 
Frankford Group Ministry Northwest Counseling Services
Merelyn Rodriguez Henry Cruz
(215) 743-9201 Ext. 107 (215) 324-7500
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars

Congresode Latinos Unidos

Philadelphia Council for
Community Advancement
Sybille Damas Vincent DiBiase
(215) 763-8870 Ext. 1405 (215) 567-7803
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
 
Consumer Credit Counseling
Service of Delaware Valley
Philadelphia Neighborhood
Housing Services, Inc.
Debbie Cooper Bernard Hawkins
(215) 563-5665 Ext. 3313 (215) 988-9879 Ext. 202
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
   
Council of Spanish Speaking
Organizations, Inc. (CONCILIO)
South Philadelphia
HOMES, Inc.
Jaime Fugueras Claudia Sherrod
(215) 627-3100 Ext. 254 (215) 334-4430
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars

Dixon House of the Diversified
Community Services
Urban League of
Philadelphia
Diane Grimes Ruth Gaskins
(215) 336-3511 (215) 561-6070
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
 
Fern Rock Ogontz
Belefield CDC
West Oak Lane CDC
Darcel McDaniel Joan Atkins
(215) 549-8755 (215) 224-0880
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars

 
 
Germantown Settlement Intercultural Family Services
Bernadette Prater Evelyn Marcha-Hidalgo
(215) 849-3105 (215) 386-1298
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Closing
Educational Seminars

This site is sponsored by Michelle Leonard
of Long and Foster

Email Michelle Leonard Click Here.

To reach Long and Foster office call 610-225-7400 or

to reach Michelle Leonard directly call 610-642-8398