As most of you know by reading my blogs I specialize in working with First Time Home Buyers and down payment assistance programs. I have meet most of the works who run these counties programs and have a lender that I work closely with to get these deals closed.  A lot of my clients have been waiting for Seminole county to come out with their new funds. These funds will begin on October 1, 2008. However their guidelines are already out and I can get you in now and ready so you can be one of the first recipients of down payment assistance, as long as you qualify.

Drum roll please......... Here is the new 2008 Seminole County SHIP Down Payment assistance guidelines.

1. Applicants must invest a minimum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) into the property being purchased. This amount can be in the form of gift funds provided the funds are truly a gift and can be verified/documented by a gift letter provided by the first mortgage lender
2. Applicants are required to complete a pre-purchase education program prior to application submittal. The pre-purchase education program certificate must be provided by a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency located within the State of Florida. The certificate must be dated no more than six( 6) months prior to application submission.
3. Once applicants are deemed to be income eligible, they will be required to attend a SHIP Pre-Purchase Counseling session provided by Seminole County. Failure to attend the required session will result in the denial of the application.
4. Please submit a complete application to determine eligibility prior to signing a residential sales contract. The SHIP conditional approval letter will indicate a maximum sales price for each customer along with the amount of the SHIP award. (I feel this is important to note)
5. The Purchase Assistance application must include a pre-approval letter from a Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Lender specific to Seminole County. The first mortgage must be a 15-30 Year FHA or Conventional Loan only and must be at a competitive fixed rate. My lender is slated to be on the list of approved lenders for Seminole County and has been in the past.

Purchase Assistance awards are as follows: $80,000 for very low income, $50,000 for low income, and $20,000 for moderate income. Maximum income listed in chart below.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING A HOME IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, THEN CONTACT, HEATHER JOUBRAN, YOUR EXPERT AGENT DEALING WITH SHIP FINANCING, TODAY!

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For information on buying, selling, or auctions in Central Florida, Orange County and Seminole County, new construction, bank owned, short sale and foreclosure properties and Relocation services contact your Lake Mary Real Estate Agent Heather Joubran @ 407-810-6304 or hjoubran@remax.net.

Seminole County consists of Lake Mary, Sanford, Heathrow, Longwood, Altamonte springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo. Orange County consists of Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Baldwin Park, Windermere, Apopka, Winter Park, Maitland, Disney, UCF, East Orlando, Lake Nona.

I can help you with all your housing needs from Luxury Homes to First Time Home Buyers

"Always work with a Realtor when selling a home. Would you hire a Realtor who has never sold a house before, knows nothing about real estate law, contract negotiation, or sales? Of course not – but that describes you. Don’t hire yourself – hire a real estate sales professional." ~ Ric Edelman