March is the month of luck, unruly weather, and my birthday!!!
It’s also high school musical season in the North Country! I’m so excited to see these productions back in full swing and hope you will show up in droves to support these kids. We are their community; let’s show up for them. It’s a great opportunity to witness budding talent and be entertained indoors during this cold blustery month.
This month I’d like to share with you another great opportunity that buyers have is to take advantage of some potential free money! Buyers don’t feel very lucky lately. Anything we can do to help is appreciated. Please help me spread the word about the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) Housing Opportunities Foundation grant. This 501(c) (3) charitable foundation was created by the NYSAR Board of Directors in 2003 with the goal of assisting individuals in becoming homeowners.
The foundation awards two grants per month to first-time buyers in New York State. Each grant is for $2,000 and is meant to help offset the ever-rising closing costs and down payment expenditure. So that’s $4,000 in free money given out to someone in NYS. Let’s increase the odds for our North Country buyers!!
Our Mission:
With the goal of assisting individuals in becoming homeowners, the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation identifies outside partnership opportunities with organizations that facilitate homeownership and also provides direct support in the home buying process to low-to-moderate income families.
These monthly grants provide that direct support. They are only awarded to owner occupied properties. All applicants that meet the requirements for that month are put into a lottery system to draw 2 winners. If your name isn’t drawn the first month, you get automatically put in the next month as well. If an applicant has completed the first-time homebuyer course, then they get 2 entries in the lottery.
To apply buyers must be working with a NYS REALTOR® and:
You must be a first-time homebuyer (as defined by SONYMA); A person who (i) has not had any ownership interest in his/her primary residence at any time during the three years prior to the date of making an application for a mortgage loan; and, (ii) at the time of making the loan application, does not own a vacation or investment home. This definition includes residences owned in the United States and abroad.
You must meet the income limits. For example, in Clinton & Essex Counties, a household of 3+ the Maximum income is $97,550.
The purchase price must not exceed the allowable amount. In Clinton & Essex Counties, the Maximum is $381,300.
Most of our first-time buyers easily meet these requirements. The application is quick and easy to complete online. Between 2003 and 2019, the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation helped more than 350 families across New York State become homeowners by awarding first-time homebuyer grants.
The application, full details of requirements and more info on the foundation can be found at www.NYSARHousingFoundation.com. Please check out the website for more information or ask your REALTOR® and help us spread the word!
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