The Mississippi Development Authority was awarded over $40 million to help stabilize neighborhoods throughout the state that have been negatively affected by the foreclosure crisis which has hit Mississippi hard over the previous years. This was part of a government program called the Neighborhood Stabilization Program which aims to encourage people taking out a new MS home loan to purchase a foreclosed home.
Half of the money awarded to the state of Mississippi through this program was handed over to the Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) and in turn the MHC has established a program called the Home Buyer Advantage.
This program is designed to give assistance in the form of extra money for a one-time down payment for those who want to take out a MS home loan on a Mississippi foreclosed home. The goal is to get these homes occupied so they are properly maintained.
Do You Qualify?
The good thing about this program is that it is not just for first-time home buyers. The qualifications include:
1. You have to be pre-approved for a MS home loan through a lender that is approved by MHC.
2. You must be planning to live in the new home you purchase as your primary residence.
3. The gross income for your entire household cannot be more than 120%of the median income for the neighborhood you want to move into.
4. You must attend an 8 hour class operated by a housing counseling service which is HUD approved.
There are a lot of qualifications to be met and some hoops that must be jumped through before you can qualify for down payment assistance, but it can be worth it when you consider that you could receive as much as $39,999 deducted from the price of the home you take out your next MS home loan for! That makes quite a difference in the price you pay for the home and your monthly payments.
You can view a list of approved Mississippi lenders on the MHC website, as well as more detailed information regarding the income limits for different counties throughout the state.
What Homes Qualify?
Any home in the state of Mississippi that is currently sitting in foreclosure will work for this program. There are thousands of homes currently sitting vacant and they are dragging down property values for the entire area! If you are planning to make use of the Homebuyer Advantage program you must first one of the approved lenders listed on the MHC website and get pre-approved for your MS home loan.
Once you know the amount you are pre-approved for, you can start looking at foreclosed homes in the Mississippi neighborhoods you are interested in living in. You must find a home with a selling price that is within the amount of your pre-approved loan. That will limit the houses you look into, but since prices are down right now throughout the Mississippi housing market you should find a great deal on a home that you will really love.
Remember, you have to attend that 8 hour class prior to going through with the paperwork and officially taking out your MS home loan, so talk with your lender and get all the details straightened before the house you love gets swept out from under your feet!
Right now is the perfect time to take out a new MS home loan! While the foreclosure crisis has hit our state hard and many people are suffering, there are many opportunities for people who have stable employment and who want to purchase a newer home or who want to purchase their very first home.
If a MS home loan may be in your future, consider some of the unique ways you could qualify for discounts or assistance for your MS home loan!
Teachers
There are some areas in Mississippi that are seriously short on teachers. These areas tend to be those hit very hard by the economic upset circling the entire country throughout previous years, as well as areas that were already underfunded and shortchanged to begin with.
If you are a teacher and are willing to commit to working in the teaching profession within one of these areas for at least three years, then you could get some extra help when taking out a MS home loan. Just your profession and the willingness to help relieve the understaffed teachers already working in these disadvantaged areas of our state qualifies you for this special assistance, though there may be some income limitations that apply as well.
If you think you may qualify and are interested in doing this, contact the Mississippi Home Corporation and ask about their programs for teachers.
Foreclosed Property
Many Mississippians are now looking at foreclosed homes as a means of getting more house at less cost. Many of the foreclosed homes currently sitting empty throughout the state are in great condition and are extremely large and nice, and they are selling for much less than they were worth prior to going into foreclosure!
Lenders want to get as much of their money as possible on the MS home loan that originally purchased these homes, but they also want to get rid of the foreclosed properties as quickly as possible so they don't have them on their books. This means many foreclosed properties will sell for much less than they are worth right now.
If you are interested in purchasing a foreclosed Mississippi home, then chances are you could qualify for serious discounts on your next MS home loan. Millions of dollars are now being issued out thousands of home buyers who meet some income qualifications and are willing to purchase a foreclosed home.
Call around to find a lender who is participating in one of these programs and ask them to pre-approve you for a MS home loan. Then call areal estate agent and tell them you want to look at some foreclosed properties. If you find one you like, then you could save as much as $39,999 toward a down payment on your next MS home loan!
There are many programs assisting Mississippians in purchasing new homes. If you are willing to step up and become a solution to the social problems currently plaguing most areas of our state, you could be rewarded in big ways financially.
Consider purchasing a foreclosed home or taking out a MS home loan while dedicating your time to a school system desperate for qualified, passionate teachers, and see what kind of assistance the state will be wiling to give you. In most cases you can use these discount programs in addition to the programs offered by the Federal government.