Government Programs For New Homeowners

State And Federal Unemployment Assistance

Laidoff workers may be eligible for unemployment income. The amount of unemployment income youre eligible to receive varies by state.

Visit your state governments website to see what unemployment assistance is available where you are. You can find contact information for your state government and agencies here.

In addition, the recentlypassed American Rescue Plan renews federal unemployment assistance .

Those who collect state unemployment assistance may also be eligible for an additional $300 per week in federal unemployment income, thanks to the new stimulus bill. This will be available until September 6, 2021.

Stimulus checks

The American Rescue Plan also includes direct payments of up to $1,400 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and couples with an AGI of $150,000 or less.

Families will receive an additional stimulus check of up to $1,400 for each qualified dependent.

Special Measures For Northern And Off

We recognize that Canadians living in northern and off-grid communities face specific challenges when it comes to completing home retrofits, including higher equipment and labour costs.

Make your home more resilient by making additional upgrades

Climate change and its effects often hit close to home. Many environmental factors related to climate change can have an impact on your home causing fire, flooding, wind damage and loss of power. Your home and its location can help you identify your specific vulnerabilities to climate change. If you are in the process of making upgrades to your home, you should consider additional retrofits that could help protect your home and your family from environmental damages.

Natural Resources Canada does not endorse the services of any contractor, nor any specific product, and accepts no liability in the selection of materials, products, contractors or performance of workmanship. Before undertaking upgrades or renovations, find out about the appropriate products, safety and installation techniques, and ensure that all renovations meet local building codes and by-laws.

First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme

The NSW Government announced increased thresholds for purchases of new homes and vacant land to build a new home from 1 August 2020. The threshold for existing home purchases remains unchanged.You may be eligible to apply for an exemption or reduction of transfer duty charges under the assistance scheme.This assistance scheme applies to first home buyers:

• buying an existing home
• buying a new home
• buying vacant land on which you intend to build a home.

For homes or vacant land bought between 1 July 2017 and 31 July 2020, you can apply for a full exemption if:

• the value of your new or existing home is less than $650,000.

You can apply for a concession if:

• the value of your new or existing home is between $650,000 and $800,000, or
• the value of your block of land is between $350,000 and $450,000.

If you buy a home or vacant land between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021 you can apply for a full exemption if:

• the value of your new home is less than $800,000, or
• the value of your existing home is less than $650,000.

You can apply for a concession if:

• the value of your new home is between $800,000 and $1 million, or
• the value of your existing home is between $650,000 and $800,000, or
• the value of your block of land is between $400,000 and $500,000.

Recommended Reading: Local Government Federal Credit Union Member Connect

What About The Masks For All Legislation In Congress

Senator Bernie Sanders, a longtime better-mask advocate, reintroduced the Masks for All Act on January 11. Under the proposed $5 billion bill , everyone in the U.S. would receive a package of three N95s for free. The legislation would also require the federal government to use all available authorities, including the Defense Production Act, to eliminate shortages of N95s, provide them in a range of sizes, and make sure they are rapidly and widely distributed to the public and essential workers. Masks would be made available at various community institutions like post offices, pharmacies, public transit stations, and schools.

The bills prospects in Congress remain unclear.

How Do I Get A First

Start by exploring the housing finance agency in your state. You’ll likely come across a number of programs designed especially for first-time buyers such as yourself. Many programs offer grants to help turn your homeownership dream into reality.

Be aware that not all first-time home buyer grants are the same. Fund amounts depend on various factors, including location, credit score, income, and family size. An experienced lender can also point you in the right direction as far as grants are concerned.

Also Check: Congress Mortgage Stimulus For Middle Class

Pennsylvania Down Payment Assistance Programs

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agencys HOMEstead program can provide up to $10,000 in down payment assistance to qualified borrowers.

To be eligible, your household income and the purchase price of the home youre buying must be below certain limits .

Although the money is a zerointerest loan, it is forgiven at a rate of 20% each year over five years. At the end of that time, you should typically be free and clear provided you havent moved, transferred ownership, or refinanced in the meantime.

Get the details from the agencys website. And consult HUDs list of other homeownership assistance programs in Pennsylvania.

Ohio Down Payment Assistance Programs

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency has a down payment assistance program through its MyOhioHome.org resource. It provides either 2.5% or 5% of the homes purchase price.

This comes in the form of a loan, which is forgiven after seven years. Sell, transfer, or refinance before then, and youll have to repay the loan. Youll need a credit score of 660 or better. And limits apply on incomes and purchase prices.

Get more information from MyOhioHomes website. And consult HUDs list of other homeownership assistance programs in Ohio.

You May Like: Dental Implant Grants

Why Has It Taken So Long For The Us Government To Start Providing Free High

Thats a good question, but better late than never particularly since providing N95 or other better masks for free to the public will help Americans be prepared for future COVID waves, or COVID variants that might be more transmissible. High-filtration respirators can also be used to protect against other airborne health hazards, like wildfire smoke.

This post has been updated throughout.

Must Earn Income That’s Above

Eligible home buyers must earn an income that’s no more than 20 percent over the median income for a metropolitan area. For example, in Portland, Maine, where the median income is $60,000, home buyers must earn $72,000 per year or less to claim their cash down payment grant.

Note that income exceptions can be made in high-cost areas, such as New York, Los Angeles, and other cities where the cost of living is high. In high cost areas, eligible home buyers must earn an income that’s no more than 80 percent over the local median income. In San Francisco, eligible home buyers must earn $189,000 per year or less.

Don’t Miss: City Of Las Vegas Government Jobs

What To Consider With First

Before seeking out a first-time homebuyer program, make sure you meet the definition of a first-time homebuyer. Many nonprofit and government programs consider you a first-time homebuyer if you havent owned a home within the last three years. This includes investors who own rental or investment properties, whether or not its considered your primary residence.

Some government-backed programs, such as an FHA or USDA loan, require that the property meets certain standards before qualifying. There could be income restrictions for local and state programs, as well.

Regardless of what programs you may qualify for, purchasing a home is a major financial decision and shouldnt be taken lightly. That means look at what you can afford, which includes factoring in maintenance costs. Once you figure out a realistic budget, speak to a lender with experience with first-time homebuyers. This might not be your bank it could be a credit union or other type of lender.

Lenders who have ample knowledge about first-time homebuyer programs in your area and knowing what you might qualify for can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, says Diego Corzo, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas.

Fannie Maes Homepath Ready Buyer: Best For First

Fannie Maes HomePath ReadyBuyer program is geared toward first-time buyers interested in a foreclosed home . After taking a required online homebuyer education course, eligible borrowers can receive up to 3 percent in closing cost assistance toward the purchase of a HomePath property, which is a foreclosed property owned by Fannie Mae.

• Strengths: Potentially affordable home options low down payment requirement closing cost assistance
• Weaknesses: Limited choice of properties, which might need repairs homebuyer class

Read more about Fannie Maes HomePath ReadyBuyer program.

Recommended Reading: Best Jobs For History Majors

Down Payment Assistance For First

There are thousands of DPA programs available nationwide and locally. The aid they offer comes in several different forms, including grants, loans, and credits.

As Anderson explains:

• With a DPA grant, money is given to the borrower that doesnt have to be paid back under the condition that they own and live in the home for a specified amount of time. This will typically be secured by a lien on the property until the conditions are met
• Alternatively, the DPA program can be a second mortgage loan offered at a low or zero interest rate that needs to be paid back or forgiven over a certain period. This most likely will also be secured by a lien on your property

Alternatively, certain agencies throughout specific states issue mortgage credit certificates . These can reduce the amount of federal income tax you pay, making it possible for you to save more funds for a down payment and other costs associated with a home purchase.

Keep in mind that a tax credit is not received until you file a tax return, so be sure to consult with a tax advisor for your specific situation, adds Anderson.

To help find DPA programs, check out these links:

When researching financial assistance programs, carefully review the program requirements to ensure that you qualify. Also, make sure you can find an approved lender, advises Anderson.

How To Get Free N95 Masks From The Government

It has been clear for some time that N95 respirator masks and other high-filtration masks like KN95s and KF94s provide the highest level of protection against the transmission of COVID-19, and that the cloth and surgical masks many Americans wear are inferior. But the government has been slow to act on this information. On Friday, the CDC finally updated its face mask guidance to emphasize the better protection offered by respirators like N95s and KN95s. And this week, the Biden administration unveiled plans to make 400 million N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and community health centers across the country an effort the White House is touting as the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history. Here is what we know about the governments free-mask plan so far.

Don’t Miss: Los Lunas City Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions About Hvac Rebates

How do rebates work?

Usually you must pay for the upgrades yourself and you will receive a partial refund in the mail afterwards.In most cases, the process is as follows: You check for available rebates in your area and carefully study the terms and requirements . You may have to fill out an application first. If required, you have an energy audit done by a Certified Energy Auditor thats approved by the entity offering the rebate.You have the upgrades done by a reputable local HVAC contractor In some cases the contractor is responsible for applying for the rebates after the work is done, or it may be up to you. Sometimes a final energy audit is required.Youll typically receive a reimbursement cheque in the mail The process outlined here is just a general guideline and the details will obviously vary in your case. Thats why it can be a good idea to enlist the help of a local HVAC expert ahead of time to help you through the process of replacing your furnace and getting the rebates.Note that in certain cases may pay for the upgrades directly but this is relatively rare.

How can I qualify for rebates?How much can I save?

Typically anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1000 or more, depending on the rebate program, how many eligible upgrades are completed . Remember that you must usually pay for the upgrades first and then receive a cheque afterwards.

Can I use the rebate money to pay for the upgrades directly or get the money ahead of time?Whats the catch?

Idaho Down Payment Assistance Programs

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association runs two DPA programs:

• A Second Mortgage Loan With a credit score of at least 640 you could qualify for this 10year loan, which must be repaid via monthly payments. You could borrow up to 3.5% of the homes purchase price
• A Forgivable Loan This loans balance slowly goes away over a sevenyear period as long as you live in the home and dont refinance. This loan could equal as much as 3.5% of your homes price

Both these loans require borrowers to complete a homebuyer education course, and the borrower must always provide at least 0.5% of the home price in his or her own money. This means you couldnt use money from a gift or a separate DPA program.

Money from either loan could also be used to pay closing costs.

Visit the IHFA website for complete details which include income limits in some cases. And check HUDs list of alternative programs for Idaho.

You May Like: Government Grants For Auto Repair Shops

Relief Programs For Renters

Renters have protections during COVID, too, although theyre less robust than the relief programs offered to homeowners.

• Some renters cannot be evicted until at least June 30, 2021, if they are behind on payments due to COVIDrelated financial hardship
• $25 billion in emergency rental assistance will be available through state and local governments to help renters who cant make payments

To qualify for rent relief, landlords or tenants will have to meet certain conditions, including:

• The household cant make more than 80% of their areas median income
• Renters must be experiencing financial hardship related to the pandemic
• The renter must be at risk of losing their housing

Since funds will be distributed locally, tenants and landlords hoping to qualify for rent relief will need to check for programs operating in their area.

For starters, check this spreadsheet of local housing programs, compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, to find rental assistance programs currently operating in your state or county.

The American Rescue Plan also includes an additional $5 billion in emergency Section 8 housing vouchers for people experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, and victims of human trafficking, according to NPR.

Individuals in these categories should reach out to their local public housing agency to learn whether they qualify for assistance. You can find your local PHA here.

What to do if youre behind on rent

Canadian Government Grants For Seniors Up To $40k

In:Accessibility, Organization

It is important for seniors to be able to live comfortably and be able to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. There are several Canadian Government grants for seniors to help make it possible for them to be independent, able to look after themselves, and stay in the familiar environment of their own home. Weve compiled a list of Canadian government grants for seniors available in various provinces and for seniors living on reserves. The top inexpensive improvement that can greatly improve accessibility in your kitchen is installing sliding shelves. Top find out the other ways to improve accessibility by using grants keep reading.

You May Like: Mortgage Stimulus Program Middle Class

New Canadian Government Rebates For Window Replacement

With promises being made by each candidate vying to be the next Canadian Prime Minister, there is a consistent area of concernclimate change.

As the election draws near, homeowners should take note of the agendas two of the leading political parties have announced on home renovation grants and rebates. To combat the negative effects of global warmingrapidly melting glaciers and snowpack, higher sea levels, and extreme weather eventsits more important than ever that Canadians do their part to reduce their carbon footprint.

Luckily, no matter who wins the top job, there will be opportunities for homeowners to receive incentive dollars for environmentally friendly improvements and retrofits for replacement of windows and doors with more efficient units.

Experts at Ecoline Windows indicate that new 2020 Energy Star and NAFS 11 program standards will soon be enacted per government requirements to improve energy efficiency. They will also be required to qualify for local rebates and low-cost home improvement loans.

To achieve the maximum benefits from replacement windows, double and triple-pane windows should be included. Glass panes are the most vulnerable to heat loss and gain. As severe weather events increase, its important for homeowners to protect their homes with glass packages that increase efficiency.

Additional rebates are pledged for projects like:

Gst/hst New Housing Rebate

You may qualify for this rebate allowing to recover part of the GST or HST that you paid on the purchase price or cost of building your new house, on the cost of substantially renovating or building a major addition onto your existing house, or on converting a non-residential property into a house.GST/HST New Housing provides all of the details on this rebate.

Read Also: Money For Homeschooling From The Government