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If you are interested in obtaining additional information about these strategies, please see the information which follows and/or contact the Division's Housing Development Section at (407) 836-5171.
Down Payment Assistance Program
The purpose of Orange County's Down Payment Assistance program is to provide funds to qualified first time homebuyers for down payment and closing costs associated with purchasing a home. The program will provide assistance to qualified very low, low and moderate income persons in Orange County on a first come, first ready basis. The program also requires that potential homebuyers complete a pre-purchase and post-purchase education program. The buyer must
- Meet the income requirements. Annual household income cannot exceed 120% of the area median income.
- Provide the greater of $1,000 or 1% of the sales price.
- Complete a home buyer's education seminar.
- Secure first mortgage financing.
- Fulfill a 1 year residency requirement in the Orlando MSA (Orange, Seminole, Lake, or Osceola Counties)
The property must
- Be new or existing with substantial rehabilitation and located in Orange County, outside the city limits of Orlando.
- Not exceed a sales price of $219,000.
- Receive competitive fixed rate financing.
- Be fee simple ownership.
The assistance
- Ranges from $20,000 to $35,000 depending on household income.
- The County's assistance is provided to the buyer's closing agent at closing in the form of a soft second mortgage at 0% interest which is forgiven after fifteen (15) years if the home remains owner-occupied.
- In addition, the total first mortgage and Orange County's second mortgage may not exceed 105% of appraised value.
For more information about all the information presented above, please contact the Division's Housing Development Section at (407) 836-5174 or (407) 836-5175.
The Home Buyer's Education Program
The Homebuyer's Education Program is a free service to everyone and provides education and technical services to assist eligible very low, low and moderate income families in the process and procedure connected with the purchase of an affordable single family fee simple housing unit. Homebuyers Education addresses such topics as choosing a realtor, qualifying for a mortgage, inspecting a house, contracts for sale, home maintenance and credit issues.
All participants requesting down payment assistance must attend a Homeowners Education workshop. Please contact the following organizations for more information:
Impact Fee Program
This program is an incentive to builders/developers to build affordable single-family housing countywide, excluding properties within the city limits of Orlando. In proportion to the sales price builders are eligible for reimbursement of up to 75% of total impact fees paid providing that the home is sold to qualified very low, low and moderate-income persons. This strategy is designed to be used in conjunction with the Down Payment Assistance Program and as such, all buyers must meet the eligibility requirements under this strategy.
Owner-occupied Housing Rehabilitation
The Orange County Housing Rehabilitation Program provides deferred payment loans and or grants for the rehabilitation of substandard owner-occupied single-family units as follows:
- Substantial rehabilitation of unit - maximum of $50,000 in repairs
- Emergency repairs to unit - maximum of $15,000 in repairs
Deferred loans for rehabilitation of owner occupied, single family units are provided to very low-income persons under this program. To qualify for the program, the rehabilitation of a unit must address a major code violation. All potential applicants must complete an application for participation in the program and will be awarded funding on a first come first serve basis. Additionally, applicants must meet the income criteria of the program and provide proof of home ownership. For more information about the Homeowners Rehabilitation Program call 407-836-5181.
Click here for more information on Housing Rehabilitation
The Multi-Family Construction Program
The Multi-Family Construction Program will assist in providing funds for new construction or the renovation of existing multi-family rental developments serving low-income households. The SHIP assistance under this program may be used for site acquisition, site development, infrastructure improvements, renovations or any other locally approved activity. The County's financial assistance will be secured with a mortgage and note that will require repayment at a minimal interest rate of one and a half percent (1.5%). All assisted developments must commit to lower rents for a period of thirty (30) or more years and will comply with the low income set aside requirements of the SHIP Program. Proposed new construction for Multi-Family Developments must be certified as affordable.
Subordinations and Payoffs of Down Payment Assistance and Housing Rehabilitation Liens
Over 6,000 families have received assistance under Orange County's down payment assistance and housing rehabilitation programs. At some point in time families may seek to sell or refinance their home prior to the Orange County lien expiring. If a family seeks to sell their home, the payoff amount needed to satisfy the lien will be provided to the closing agent. If the family seeks to refinance the first mortgage on the home, the Housing and Community Development Division has a long-standing practice regarding subordination requests under its affordable housing programs. This Division will only subordinate its lien position in instances in which the homeowner is not taking any equity out of the property for personal use and is refinancing the balance of their first mortgage in order to receive a lower interest rate, which will in turn improve the affordability of the home. Please be sure the following requirements are included with your request for subordination.
- Good Faith Estimate on new loan
- A loan pay-off letter from the original lender (should include original interest rate, monthly payment)
- A loan commitment letter for the new loan (should include new interest rate, monthly payment, and number of years financed)
Fax the Subordination or Payoff Request to:
Down Payment Assistance - Fax: 407-836-5197
Housing Rehabilitation - Fax: 407-836-0979
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Housing & Community Development Division 
