June is National Homeownership Month!
Homeownership is one goal that many Peronal Investment Enterprise (PIE) participants achieve while saving and attending financial education classes. Over 50 families have purchased their homes with the assistance of matching PIE funding for closing costs! Some homes have been purchased with assistance from St. Vrain Habitat for Humanity, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, Longmont CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding, City of Boulder Housing Division, and the Longmont and Boulder Association of Realtors through CARHOF (Colorado Association of Realtors Housing Opportunity Fund).
Owning a home is often thought of as a dream, but it can become a reality with the number of resources available to help people save and plan for a home purchase. Here are some local resources if you are considering homeownership:
- City of Boulder Homeownership Programs: The city of Boulder’s Homeownership Programs offer a range of options for those seeking to own a home in Boulder Homeworks offers permanently affordable new development homes and resales, H2O loans and the 3% Solution downpayment assistance grant.
The next City of Boulder Affordable Homes Open House is Sunday, June 24, 2012, 12- 3pm. This event is a fun and easy way to see multiple affordable properties in one afternoon and learn more about the Homeownership Program. A variety of properties will participate including Condos, and Townhomes. For a current list of participating homes, see the Open House Google Map or the Open House Brochure.
New properties may be added through June 22nd.
2. City of Longmont Affordable Housing Program
The Boulder County Down Payment Assistance Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers purchasing a home in Boulder County (outside of the city limits of Boulder). Up to 8.5% of the purchase price (maximum $15,000) may be borrowed.
Visit Thistle’s website to learn more about their affordable homeownership communities in Boulder and Longmont.
4. Broomfield Housing Authority
5. Funding Partners for Housing Solutions
Funding Partners coordinates, enhances and leverages resources to increase the affordable housing stock attainable to very low to moderate income families and individuals. They provide Employee Homeownership Programs (EHOP), a variety of loan programs and down payment assistance.
6. Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
The CHFA team works together throughout Colorado to increase the availability of affordable, decent, and accessible housing for lower income Coloradans and to strengthen the state's economy by providing financial assistance to businesses.
In celebration of National Homeownership Month, CHFA has launched a new program to help Colorado’s first time homebuyers save up to $2,000 annually on their federal income taxes. The program, called CHFA SmartStep, combines CHFA’s most affordable 30-year fixed rate mortgage with a Mortgage Credit Certificate, and optional down payment assistance.
ColoradoHousingSearch.com is a free, housing locator service jointly sponsored by Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) and the Colorado Division of Housing, and with collaboration from multiple agencies, as a public service to the residents of Colorado.
8. Boulder County Housing Counseling
Visit the Boulder County Housing Counseling website for information about homeownership counseling:
Financial Foundations (Spanish Flyer)
9. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity
Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a non-profit organization that builds homes in partnership with qualified families in need of decent and affordable housing.
Flatirons HFH serves the Boulder Valley School District (Region 2) and the City/County of Broomfield. BVSD RE2 includes Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Boulder, Nederland and Ward but does not include Longmont, Lyons and other towns in the St. Vrain School District
10. Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley
HFHSVV is dedicated to providing simple, decent, affordable housing for low-income families in the towns of Longmont, Erie, Dacono, Frederick, Firestone, Mead, Niwot and Lyons.
Homeownership offers many benefits beyond simply having a place of your own and stable housing. It has been proven to strengthen relationships with neighbors, increase educational attainment in school, decrease crime and violence, and increase civic participation (Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing, National Association of Realtors, 2012)
We hope these resources are helpful to you and your family!
