How To Get Your Government Housing Grant

by

Lara SawyerThere are multitudes of agencies with the federal government that have grant programs to assist certain groups of individuals in obtaining funding to pay down on a home, or to secure a government loan for purchasing a home. Government grants can mean the difference between renting and becoming a homeowner for many people.

Low Income Borrowers

One group of people that are assisted by government grants is low-income individuals. There are grants available to not only assist with obtaining a down payment, such as those offered by the office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but in buying a home through a government program, such as those available for purchase through the Farmers Home Administration (FHA), and grants for repairing existing homes to make them more livable, such as programs through the United States Rural Development Association (USDA). These programs are needs based, so you will have to meet certain income thresholds to qualify for grants and assistance under these agencies. A formula for determining eligibility usually takes into account such factors as income and number of people who reside in the household.

Housing Assistance

Additionally, HUD provides grants for housing assistance for those who have limited income and resources, or for the homeless, in the form of Section 8 rental assistance, whereby a voucher is issued for the household to receive all or a portion of their rent paid under the program guidelines. Recipients of HUD Section 8 housing assistance vouchers usually are required to be placed on a waiting list, with those in the most immediate need (such as homeless or displaced by fire or other calamity) being moved to the top of the list first. Those who qualify will also be required to attend a seminar that details their assistance, and outlines participation requirements.

Once approved, successful candidates will receive a voucher that is issued to their landlord each month when the rent is due, for either all of a needs-based part of the rent to be paid with. In addition, dependent upon income, HUD may also send program participants a check to use towards utility payments, such as electricity, water, sewer, and garbage collection, each month. Oftentimes, recipients of rental assistance can be moved in to home ownership through the same agency after a period of successful participation.

Down Payment Assistance

Most of the grant money available is in the form of down payment assistance. This money does not have to be repaid. The money to pay down on your new home is provided by the grant. This can go a long way for those borrowers who can afford monthly payments but do not have the means to afford a down payment to retain the home. Down payment assistance is typically ten percent of the purchase price of the home. Homes must meet certain requirements and be inspected prior to approval of your application for down payment assistance.

Elderly And Disabled

Some lenders, such as HUD and USDA, provide government backed assistance to receive loans to finance homes for low income, elderly, or disabled persons at low interest rates. The application process can be tricky, so having a representative of the agency assist you in filing your application is recommended. Your financial picture will be assessed, and you may be required to attend workshops on becoming a better borrower. Once approved, the home you purchase must undergo rigorous inspections to pass all of the individual agency requirements before you can close the deal.

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