Affordable housing and down payment and assistance programs are changing with the state budget deficit and elimination of the San Jose Redevelopment department.

First time homebuyers are now forced to look at the remaining Down Payment Assistance Programs(DAP) available though the rest of this year and for the foreseeable future.

The Santa Clara County Housing Trust has created a week long program to help you navigate through all the changes and help people in need of housing information. Among them we still have access to the 23 Million dollar grant for affordable housing and stabilization of the Santa Clara County communities.

Here is a list of available programs during affordable housing week.

Saturday, April 30

• All day: Rebuilding Together Day of Service – Home Rehabilitation for Seniors, Disabled and Families.

(Multiple sites in Santa Clara County) Contact: bjackson@rebuildingtogether-sv.org

• 10am – 6pm: 8-Hour Homebuyer Education Class, Project Sentinel

(San Jose) Rose Garden Library, 1580 Naglee Ave., San Jose.

Contact: mediate4us@housing.org

Tuesday, May 3

• 11am – MidPen Housing Fair Oaks Plaza Construction Tour. (Sunnyvale)

660 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086.

Contact: kish@midpen-housing.org

• 1pm – 2pm; Palo Alto Housing Corp., tour of the Tree House.  (Palo Alto)

(currently under construction, hard hat area),  488 W. Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA.

Contact:cgonzalez@paloaltohousingcorp.org

• 6pm – 8pm: NHSSV Class, Foreclosure Intervention & Loan Modification.

(San Jose) Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95116.

Contact: jangulo@nhssv.org

Wednesday, May 4

• 8:30am to 3pm: Silicon Valley Housing Summit at Oshman Community Center (Palo Alto)

3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA. Hosted by Silicon Valley Leadership Group & Housing Trust of Santa Clara County. Contact: http://housingsummit2011.eventbrite.com

• 6pm – 8pm: Housing Trust of Santa Clara County, NSP Workshop (San Jose)

Santa Teresa Library, 290 International Circle, San Jose. Contact: Dan@housingtrustscc.org

• 6pm: South County Housing, Housing Fair (Morgan Hill)

Jasmine Square Community Rm., 16530 Monterey Rd., Morgan Hill, CA. Showcasing Madrone Plaza & Alexander Place. Contact: Robyn@scounty.com

Thursday, May 5

• 12pm – 1pm: Habitat for Humanity Construction Tour (Morgan Hill)

16804 Cory Drive, Morgan Hill, CA. Contact: espaulding@hfhsv.org

• 3pm – 5pm: Affordable Housing Resource Fair (Cupertino)

West Valley Community Services, 10104 Vista Dr., Cupertino, CA 95014
Contact:sarons@wvcommunityservices.org

• 6pm – 8pm: NHSSV Class, Homebuyer (San Jose)

Education & Orientation
Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95116
Contact:jangulo@nhssv.org

Friday, May 6

• 10am-11am: InnVision Villa Tour, (San Jose)

184 S. 11th St., San Jose, CA 95112. Contact:jburkhead@innvision.org

• 1pm – 2pm: Family Supportive Housing, Charities Housing & the Core Companies Three-Site Tour (San Jose)

686 N. King Rd. (Park on Dobbin St. at King). Showcasing Family Supportive Housing, Kings Crossing & Belovida. Contact:fwright@charitieshousing.org

Saturday, May 7

• 9am – 12 noon: First-time Homebuyer Seminar & Resource Fair, SILVAR & City of Cupertino Cupertino Community Hall, (Cupertino)

10350 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014. Contact: verag@cupertino.org

National Stabilization Program(NSP) Round 2

Santa Clara County has quietly become an example of a initiative to revitalize it’s housing market by injecting a twenty five million dollar grant into its neighborhoods. NSP2 dollars have been awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to targeted cities in an effort to fight blight in specific neighborhoods that could stall the housing recovery.

The second round follows on the heels of a first round that was rewarded last year and has since expired. The management of the funds is handled by the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County.

How NSP2 will be used in Santa Clara County

NSP2 will be used to provide up to 100 Purchase Assistance Loans to low and moderate income households buying foreclosed and abandoned properties within the designated area. Acquire and rehabilitate up to 105 bank- owned homes for resale to low and moderate income households. Twenty-five percent of the grant total ($6,250,000) will be reserved to assist households at or below 50 percent of area median income.

Target Areas in Santa Clara County

NSP2 dollars must be used in targeted census areas.

Download area map to see if you are buying in a neighborhood that is benefiting from NSP2.

Census Tracts-Council Districts

What are the requirements?

Timing is Everything

Programs like these are available until the pot of money runs out making it a challenge for some and perfect timing for others. Buyers considering this type of program should check with the Housing Trust before counting on it’s assistance.

Housing Trust Programs for First Time Home buyers

The three programs comprise of the following:

Closing cost assistance – $6,500 to help with buyers closing costs

Down Payment Assistance - $15,000 low interest loan deferred for 60 months

Mortgage Assistance – Applications available September 8th 2009

Income Limits are the Catch

Generally any government funded programs like this are meant for buyers who need that extra help to get the over the top and into a home. Here are the income limit requirements for 2009.

Broker’s Advice

Use this resource of funds to help structure your offer, this will help you write a stronger offer.  Especially if you are not having to ask a seller to credit you for closing costs and if you can show that you have a larger pool of  funds to close because you qualify for one or more of these programs.

For more information click on the following:

Housing Trust Website link here