FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Springfield’s Planning and Development department is encouraging first-time home buyers to purchase homes in certain portions of Zone 1 and Zone 2 with a new down-payment assistance loan program, which provides income-qualified home buyers with a loan up to $5,000 for closing costs. The purchase price of the home may not exceed $130,000.
The program is also open to non-first-time home buyers who are single parents or qualify as displaced homemakers under the federal income guidelines.
Household size and income limits
- 1-person = $33,600
- 2 -person = $38,400
- 3-person = $43,200
- 4-person = $48,000
- 5-person = $51,850
- 6-person = $55,700
- 7-person = $59,550
- 8-person = $63,400.
The program, financed with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, is a 10-year zero-interest rate loan that is non-amortizing, which means there are no monthly payments required unless the house is no longer the buyer’s primary residence. After five years, 50 percent of the loan obligation will be eliminated on the anniversary date. For the next five years, the amount owed is reduced monthly. After 10 years, the applicant has no obligation to pay the loan back.
Buyers must be pre-qualified for a qualified first mortgage from a lender and must complete a HUD-approved homeowner or homebuyer education class with a class completion certificate prior to final loan closing.
“We encourage any first-time homebuyer looking to buy a home in the qualified area to apply,” said Community Development Loan Officer Bob Jones. “We expect to fund about 20 loans at $5,000 each. Borrowers will be placed in a pool of income-qualified applicants. When the buyer has a signed purchase contract, funding will be reserved until the remaining underwriting for their home loan is complete.”
Visit springfieldmo.gov/downpaymentassistance for more information about the program, including a loan application, buyer’s guide and lender’s guide.
“We hope this great program will encourage home buyers to purchase a house in Zones 1 and 2. If the City of Springfield can help a few people over the initial hurdles of home ownership, we will improve our neighborhoods,” said Zone 2 Councilman Dr. Tom Prater.
Registered neighborhoods in the eligible area for the program are Bissett, Westside, Heart of the Westside, West Central, Tom Watkins, Grant Beach, Woodland Heights, Doling, Midtown, Weller and Robberson.
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For more information, please contact Community Development Loan Officer Bob Jones at 417-864-1593 [email protected] or Assistant Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement Melissa Haase at 417-864-1003.