Please read all of the information listed below:

1. Please contact a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved counseling agency at www.hud.gov to ensure that you are ready to purchase a home.  Once on the site, in the headers, select Resources; scroll down then select HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies; on the map select FL; then scroll through the list of approved agencies and make your selection.
   
2. Please select a lender from the Housing Finance Authority's Registered Lenders list that you would like to work with and contact them directly. The lender will explain the program and pre-qualify you based on the First Time Home Buyer Program guidelines to determine if you are eligible to participate. As part of the pre-approval process, the lender will review your eligibility for down payment assistance as well. The lender will advise you of the availability of down payment assistance.
   
3. Your lender will submit your loan package to the Housing Finance and Community Development Division. Your assigned staff member will contact you to schedule an appointment for Income Certification to apply for down payment assistance. It is important that you are available to come to our office in a timely manner to make application for these funds. Be advised, the Income Certification process can take several weeks to complete.
   
4. Down payment assistance funds are available on a first come, first qualified basis. Eligible households are provided with an appropriate amount of funds to make the purchase affordable. The terms of the note and mortgage related to the down payment assistance will be explained to you when you meet with staff to complete your application.
   
5. Eligible properties include single family residences, condominiums, villas and town homes located within Broward County.  Cooperatives are not program eligible properties.  Applicants cannot own other residential property.
   
6. At your closing, you will be required to pay a $750 transaction fee to the Housing Finance Authority of Broward County. This fee must be paid from your own funds and cannot be waived.
    

Disclaimer: The Housing Finance Authority of Broward County is not responsible for the borrower's selection of lender, financing terms, actions or decisions made by lenders. Lender decisions are final.

Revised: January 2012