Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
The Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program provides low to moderate income households living in the City of Appleton with financial and related technical assistance for the rehabilitation of their owner-occupied homes or duplexes.

PROGRAM BENEFITS
The Program offers the opportunity to protect the investment you have in your house by providing rehabilitation loan funds at no interest and no monthly payments. The rehabilitation of your property also increases its value and extends the life of the home.

LOAN QUALIFICATIONS
In order to qualify for a loan, you must meet the following requirements: You must be a resident of the City of Appleton. The property must be an owner-occupied single-family residence or owner-occupied duplex and you must reside at the premises for at least 90 days prior to application. Your home must be physically and financially able to be rehabilitated. Please see Gross Income and Personal Asset Limits for additional requirements.

LOAN REPAYMENT
The loan amount is placed as a lien against your property and recorded with the Register of Deeds. It is repaid in full (no interest) when you sell, transfer, lease or vacate the home.

ELIGIBLE PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS
When the loan application form is completed, you have the opportunity to list the home improvements you would like to see done and discuss them with the Housing Coordinator. However, Federal and City regulations require that all items not meeting code, as identified during the property inspection and all lead paint hazards, must be rehabilitated as part of the loan funds. Home improvement work will be prioritized with the most important first. Based on the eligible amount of the loan, it is possible that not all work needed will be done. Funds cannot be used for new construction or the acquisition of land.

Priority will be given to the following work:

• Lead paint hazards
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Heating
• Roofing
• Foundation
• Windows, exterior doors, insulation
• Interior Walls and Ceilings (Lead hazards only)
• Exterior Surface

Effective Immediately:
Due to a large budget cut for the 2006 Program Year, the Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program is no longer doing the following repairs:

» Concrete work (sidewalk, driveway, garage floor replacement)
» Foundation repairs (except structural)
» Porch replacement or porch repairs (except structural and lead hazards)
» Central air replacement
» Flooring replacement
» Bathroom/plumbing fixture replacements
» Storm doors
» Storm windows
» Garages (except lead hazards)
» Any other work that may be considered purely cosmetic

GROSS INCOME LIMITS/PERSONAL ASSETS
In order to qualify for a loan, you must meet the Gross Income limits set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Gross Income is defined as the total dollar value of all income earned before deductions.

Types of Income Include:

• Any job held within the past 12 months
• Pension
• Social Security
• Unemployment
• Child Support
• Maintenance Payments from a divorced spouse
• Disability Payments
• Any other income received

CURRENT GROSS INCOME LIMITS (as of Mar. 2008)

PERSONAL ASSET LIMITS
Program regulations limit the amount of personal assets you may possess to $50,000. Assets include:

• Cash and bank accounts
• Stocks and bonds
• Equity in real property (excluding the subject property)
• Luxury items (collector cars, boats, motor homes, campers, etc.)

LOAN DETERMINATION
Loan amounts are based on the lower of the following:

• $25,000
• The actual cost of the rehabilitation work, or
• An amount, which when added to the amount you owe on the property, does not exceed 100 percent of the home's current value.

Example:

In this case, the property owner would qualify for a $10,000 rehabilitation loan.  In some cases, it may be necessary to increase the loan amount to 110% of the property value. This will be done with the discretion of the Housing Coordinator on a case-by-case basis.

HOW TO APPLY

To print a brochure containing all the information outlined above, click here.

Applications for the Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program will be accepted September 8, 2008 through October 17, 2008 for work to be done in 2009. Applications will be available on or after September 8, 2008 at the following locations:
   Click Here for an Application
   www.appleton.org
   First floor of City Hall (across from the Cashier's)
   Fifth floor of City Hall (Community Development Department)

For more information on this program, contact Laura Roy, Housing Coordinator at (920) 832-6007.