Home Buyers

HOME BUYER LOANS

The City of St. Petersburg offers financial assistance to first time home buyers who purchase and occupy a new or existing eligible residential property located within the city's municipal boundaries and those who not received prior financial assistance from the City of St. Petersburg. Second mortgage loans are available to assist the home buyer with closing costs, down payment and to reduce or "buy-down" the first mortgage interest rate.   Down payment and closing cost assistance loans are provided to income eligible applicants at a  zero percent (0%) interest rate.  Repayment terms and loan amounts are determined by the sales price of the home.

PURCHASE ASSISTANCE LOAN GUIDELINES

Individual loans, not exceeding $20,000, shall be made available to eligible first-time home buyers.  The loan amount shall be based on the purchase price of the home, the first mortgage loan amount and the cost of closing the purchase transaction:    

a.       First:  An amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the purchase price shall be attributed to the down-payment;

b.      Second: An amount equal to one percent (1%) of the first mortgagee's loan amount shall be allocated to fund the up-front cost of the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) or the conventional Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premium. 

c.       Third:  $4,000 shall be provided to fund standard closing costs.  However, should the borrower's required two percent (2%) contribution to the transaction be insufficient to pay all additional and necessary prepaid items, the City shall consider funding those prepaid items in amount over and above the standard closing costs.  In no case shall the total assistance exceed $20,000.

Monthly payments shall be amortized at an interest rate of zero percent (0%) for a term of 240 months.  After 120 payments have been made, or the principal balance of the loan has been reduced by fifty percent (50%), the remaining principal balance or fifty percent (50%) of the loan balance shall be forgiven.   

An  Eligible Residential Property is a single family residence, a  condominium, a town home or a cooperative housing unit with a maximum purchase price of $215,555

ARE YOU READY TO BE A HOMEOWNER?

FINANCING

The process of purchasing a home begins with a first mortgage lender, which could be a bank, credit union, savings thrift or mortgage banker.  The best place to start might be with the institution where the buyer maintains a checking and savings account.  The City of St. Petersburg participates with many Lending Partners.  For a list of the city's participating lending partners please call (727) 893-7247.  We recommend that a home buyer contact as many lenders as possible to obtain the most favorable first mortgage rate and terms.

Based on the buyer's income, expenses and credit history, a first mortgage lender will "pre-qualify" the buyer to determine the first mortgage loan amount for which he or she may be approved.    A "pre-qualification", which is NOT a commitment by the lender, will provide an estimate of the maximum loan amount for which a buyer may be qualified if the buyer's mortgage loan application meets the lender's underwriting requirements.  It is important for the lender  to know that a buyer may be  a candidate for down payment and closing cost assistance.  Should the lender have questions regarding the city's program do not hesitate to ask the lender to telephone the the city at (727) 893-7247.

Note:   Family Budgeting,  Financial Fitness and Home Maintenance classes are highly recommended and should be taken within six months of closing the home purchase transaction

Community Service Foundation offers Family Budgeting Classes.  Please visit CSF at the web-address below or telephone  to register

                (727) 461-0618     www.csfhome.org                                                        

Home Buyer Education Classes are available with the following HUD approved providers:

Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation (TBCDC)          
                

                (727) 442-7075     http://www.tampabaycdc.org/  

St. Petersburg Neighborhood Home Solutions

                (727) 821-6897     http://www.nhsfl.org

Catholic Charities Housing Counseling Service

                (727) 893-1313 X 223     housing@ccdosp.org

Credability

                (800) 251-2227     www.credability.org

Pinellas Technical Education Center (PTEC) offers Home Maintenance Classes.  Please call the Housing and Community Development Department @ (727) 893-7247 to register

HOME SELECTION

Having been "pre-qualified" with a first mortgage lender ensures a seller that he or she can be secure in selling their home to buyers who will quickly and efficiently close the sale. A realtor can be assured that he or she may negotiate an equitable "deal" on behalf of the buyer, knowing the transaction will close and not be delayed or compromised by financing issues.  Once the educational component and "pre-qualification" process has been completed the first time home buyer would then contact a realtor to begin the home selection process leading to making the first time home buyer's dream of home ownership a reality.  Time spent on education and "pre-qualification" is a valuable tool in the home buying process and empowers the buyer with knowledge to make the right informed decisions that protect his or her investment in a home.

            
Median Family Income (MFI) is annually defined by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). HUD establishes the MFI specific to the geographic area it applies to and adjusts the MFI for the number of occupants, related or not, that occupy the home. The chart below lists the maximum annual gross household income for the City of St. Petersburg for the 50% and 80% MFI groups, adjusted for household size.

Your specific income or household size may vary and will be calculated at time of application.

Household median income is calculated by adding all sources of income from all adult occupants of the household, related or not, including, but not limited to, social security, child support, alimony, public assistance, interest income, pensions, income from other assets and employment income.

 Purchase assistance is available only to those who NOT received prior financial assistance from the City of St. Petersburg.