AP_Housing

Home Ownership

Would you like to realize your dream of owning your own home? It might be easier than you think.

The Lee County Department of Human Services has three homeownership programs that might help you realize your dream.

HOME Down Payment Assistance Program
You may qualify for $20,000 to $30,000 in down payment/closing cost assistance. If you meet HUD's income qualifications (up to 80% of median income), don't currently own a home, and are purchasing an existing single family home (or condominium/townhouse) or a double-wide mobile/manufactured home (mobile/manufactured home must be 1976 or newer and situated on land being purchased) in Unincorporated Lee County or the cities of Bonita Springs or Fort Myers Beach, you may qualify for assistance.

A second mortgage will be placed on the house you are purchasing. If you meet all required mortgage terms, the ten (10) year second mortgage will self-amortize at 10% per year. At the end of the ten (10) year term, if all requirements have been met, the second mortgage will be forgiven.

Your lender will apply for the assistance for you. Please contact Debbie Curran at the Lee County Department of Human Services at 239-533-7938 for further information.

SHIP Down Payment Assistance Program

Are you building a new home? You may qualify for $25,000, $40,000, or $45,000 in down payment/closing cost assistance. If you meet income qualifications for moderate, low, or very-low income, and are going to build a new home or purchase an existing single family home that is under one year old in Unincorporated Lee County or in the City of Bonita Springs, City of Fort Myers Beach, or City of Sanibel, you may qualify for assistance.

A fifteen (15) year non-amortizing second mortgage will be placed on the house you are purchasing. If you meet all required mortgage terms, the second mortgage will be forgiven at the end of the fifteen (15) year term.

Your lender will apply for the assistance for you. Please contact Debbie Curran at the Lee County Department of Human Services at 239-533-7938 for further information.

Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Resale Program

From time to time, the Lee County Department of Human Services acquires single-family homes in Unincorporated Lee County. Most homes are located in East Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres. We hire general contractors to perform housing rehabilitation on the homes. After rehabilitation, the houses are made available to low and very-low income first time homebuyers.

Depending on the amount of the first mortgage that you qualify for, Lee County may place a second mortgage on the home for the required down payment. Additional down payment/closing cost assistance is also available under the HOME Down Payment Assistance Program.

Contact the Lee County Housing Development Corporation (a non-profit agency working with the Lee County Department of Human Services) at 239-275-5105 to apply.

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