HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation (NMHC), on behalf of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), is pleased to bring you the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program, made possible through annual funding allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
HOME was created by the National Affordable Housing Act (NAHA) of 1990, with the primary objective of expanding the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing, as well as, increasing home ownership opportunities for low- and low-income families.
Depending on individual housing needs, families determined eligible for financial assistance, may receive assistance through the following HOME activities:
- Homeowner Rehabilitation
- First-Time Homeowner
- New Construction
HOME funds are not limited to the above activities. Other activities include: demolition, property acquisition, relocation and finance costs. The HOME Program also allows up to 15% of HOME funds to be used for administrative costs to ensure immediate implementation and administration of the program.
However, due to the limited amount of annual funding allocations, the NMHC has chosen to administer "Homeowner Rehabilitation"activities including but not limited to sewage/disposal system (septic), water storage tanks, additional bedrooms, repair and/or replacement of deteriorating roofs, electrical and plumbing systems.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT
To be eligible for HOME Program Financial assistance, applicants must meet, as a minimum, the following eligibility requirements:
- Gross annual household income must not exceed the "low-income limits" according to the size of household, as prescribed by HUD;
- Applicants must own or have at least a 40 year leasehold on the property to be improved;
- The property to be improved must be occupied as the principal residence of the applicant; and
- The "after-rehabilitation" value of the property must not exceed 95% of the HUD prescribed median purchase price for the type of unit (single-family unit).
TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
- Rehabilitation Applicants that have been determined eligible for financial assistance may be extended a fixed low-interest rate of 0% to 3% rehabilitation loan from $1,000 up to $40,000 with a maximum repayment term of 20 years and a monthly payment of $83.33 to $221.84.
- New Construction or Home Purchase applicants may be extended a low interest loan at a fixed rate of 2% to 5% for a term of 30 years and a loan of up to $57,000.00 with a monthly payment of $210.68 to $305.99.
- A Direct Grant is also available to elderly and persons with disability who are unable to obtain employment because of their disability and are within 30% of the HUD income limits.