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Over the years, the Authorities have offered a number of programs that have helped families buy their first home. The first program, known as the Carlisle Opportunity Homes lease-purchase program, was launched in 1989. Since that time the Authorities have developed similar programs in communities such as Enola, Mt. Holly Springs, Shippensburg Borough and Township and Lemoyne. Recently, the Authorities rolled out a county-wide lease purchase program modeled on the Authorities' previous homeownership initiatives.

The Authorities also administer a down payment and closing cost assistance program that is funded through the County Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Definition of a First Time Homebuyer: A first-time homebuyer is defined as someone who has never before owned a home, or has owned a mobile home but not the land the mobile home was located on, or someone who has lost their home due to a divorce settlement and has not owned a home since (displaced homemaker), or someone who has not owned a home within the last three years.

Interfaith Housing - New Homes AT COST! (some assembly required). (Shippensburg and Newville). Interfaith Housing of Pennsylvania has 3 and 4 bedroom homebuyer opportunities in their Mutual Self Help Housing Program in Shippensburg and Newville. Funded by USDA Rural Development and CCHRA, this program helps homebuyers build their own home-at-cost with basically no money down. This program helps homebuyers who earn less than 80% of the area median income, are able to obtain a USDA home mortgage and are willing to put in 30 hours a week of sweat equity per household. Interfaith Housing helps you each step of the way. First, they help you get a USDA Rural Development mortgage (100% financing, no PMI, an interest rate as low as 1% and no out of pocket closing costs). Then Interfaith Housing staff will train you in home buying and carpentry skills plus they are on the jobsite to show you how to build a house. You will be part of a building group and each family helps the other families and nobody moves in until the last home in the group is completed. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other trades are contracted out. The result is that one day you move into your new, modern home that is worth considerable more than it cost because of your own hard work, with no money down, plus you have a low monthly payment. To find out if you qualify, call Brian Kump, Community Development Manager at (717) 532-2475.

County-wide Lease/Purchase Homeownership Program (excludes Carlisle Borough, Shippensburg Borough and Shippensburg Township). Houses will be available under this program from time to time throughout Cumberland County. The program is limited to households earning less than 80% of the County median income. Houses are leased for a period of up to three years. No money is required up front. During the lease period, a portion of the family's rent is set aside in a savings account for use for down payment and closing costs. At the end of the lease period, the family must obtain permanent financing and purchase the property. A deed restriction requiring the property to remain homeowner occupied for a period of twenty-five years will be in place.

Participants must earn enough income to qualify for a mortgage for the property in three years without additional subsidy. Total debt at the signing of the lease cannot exceed 15% of gross monthly income. Households must commit to reducing total non-housing debt to 7% of gross monthly income during the lease period. This program allows for more leniency concerning credit and debt because the purchaser has a three-year lease period to work on credit problems and paying down on existing debt. Gross income from all sources is used to determine income. Credit standing will be a consideration. Applicant must be a first time homebuyer, defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years or has lost their home due to a divorce. If you are interested, please contact Pat Mrkobrad for an application. (NO HOUSES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME)

Cumberland Non-Profit Housing Corporation. Houses are bought in the Shippensburg area and rehabilitated for lease to low/moderate income families. Leases are for a period of up to three years. A portion of the rent payment is set aside in savings for down payment and closing costs. No money is required up front. By the end of the lease period, the family must obtain permanent financing and purchase the property. A deed restriction requiring the property to remain homeowner occupied for a period of twenty-five years will be in place. Down payment and closing cost assistance is available. Credit standing will be a consideration. The program is limited to households earning less than 80% of the County median income. Gross income from all sources is used to determine income. Minimum income levels to qualify for permanent financing at the sales price of the home must be met. This is a first time homebuyer program. If you are interested, please contact Eric Krohn at (717) 532-3105 for an application. Information verification is required and an interview with a tenant selection committee from the Cumberland Non-Profit Housing Corporation Board.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program. (Contact Pat Mrkobrad @ 717-249-0789 ext. 136)

The Cumberland County First-Time Homebuyers Down Payment/ Closing Cost Assistance Program provides up to $3,000 in assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers who purchase homes in Cumberland County and have a gross household income between 80% and 100% of the County’s median income. *( Up to $5,000 in assistance can be provided to qualified first-time homebuyers who purchase homes in Cumberland County and have a gross household income less than 80% of the County’s median income.) This assistance is in the form of a five year forgivable loan. The assistance can be used toward the purchase price of the house and/or closing costs.

This program will match the participants’ savings 3-to-1. For every $1 of savings the buyer uses to purchase their house, the County will provide $3 or $5 in grant assistance. The match can not exceed $3,000 for those households with a gross annual income between 80% and 100% of the County’s median income; $5,000 maximum for those households with a gross annual income below 80%. All of the funds, the buyer’s contribution and the County’s assistance, must be expended at the settlement and be properly reported on the settlement sheet (HUD 1). Any funds not needed at settlement will be returned to the Redevelopment Authority by the settlement agent. Buyer must not contribute more than $15,000 to the purchase of the home and many not have assets greater than $30,000 excluding IRAs, 401(k)s and similar retirement accounts.

A grant agreement will be executed and recorded on behalf of the County of Cumberland in the amount awarded. No interest is charged nor are any monthly payments required to be made by the borrower. This is a forgivable loan; 1/60 of the loan amount will be forgiven each month. After five years of home ownership the entire award is forgiven and the County’s lien will be removed. The County of Cumberland , c/o the Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County, 114 North Hanover Street , Carlisle , PA 17013 must be listed as a second mortgagee on the insurance declaration page for the length of the forgivable loan.

Applications will be accepted throughout the year. The number of applicants chosen each year will depend upon the annual Affordable Housing Trust Fund allocation to the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program for the year. Funds will be reserved on a first come first served basis.

Persons who meet the following eligibility criteria can apply for assistance through this program:

1. You must be a first-time homebuyer. A first-time homebuyer is defined as someone who has never before owned a home, or has owned a mobile home but not the land the mobile home was located on, or someone who has lost their home due to a divorce settlement and has not owned a home since (displaced homemaker), or someone who has not owned a home within the last three years.

2. Total gross household income cannot exceed the 100% median income guidelines calculated for the current Fiscal Year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). * Households with an income below 80% of the County median income would only be eligible to participate in this program when the First Front Door program of the FHLBank Pittsburgh (available through local banks) is depleted.

FAMILY SIZE	80% 100% of median income
1	$39,400 $49,200
2	$45,000 $56,200
3	$50,650 $63,300
4	$56,250 $70,300
5	$60,760 $75,900
6	$65,250 $81,500
7	$69,750 $87,200
8	$74,250 $92,800

3. Participants must provide satisfactory evidence of the funds to be matched and these must be the participants’ own funds.

5. Participants must not contribute more than $15,000 to the purchase of the home.

6. Applicant must supply a pre-approval letter from a lender with the application.

Persons who wish to apply for funds through this program must obtain an application from the Redevelopment and Housing Authority of Cumberland County, 114 North Hanover Street , Carlisle , PA 17013 or by calling 866-683-5907 x 136.

2. Most recent pay stub, and most recent income tax return, and most recent w-2 forms and most recent bank statements from all household members.

3. Employment verification form with section I only completed in full for all adult income earners in the household and/or verification of all alternative sources of income (SSI award letter, Social Security Award Letter, Child Support) for all household members.

5. Satisfactory evidence that funds to be matched are the participant’s own funds.

Upon being chosen for assistance an applicant will be notified by mail. Please allow two weeks for the application to be processed. An acceptance letter will be mailed to the applicant and the acceptance form must be returned within two weeks of notification, verifying the applicant’s acceptance or rejection of the assistance. Upon acceptance, the applicant has up to six (6) months to close on a mortgage loan for the purchase of a single family, owner occupied dwelling home in Cumberland County .

Information is provided on various mortgage products including FHA, VA, PHFA, GRH, and Conventional. Also covered are down payment and closing cost assistance programs such as The Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authority offers education and assistance for you to achieve home ownership. Seminars are held at One West Penn Street, Carlisle, PA and are available free of charge. Registration is required.

To register, or for more information: please phone 1-866-683-5907 and ask for Pat or voice mail registration to 1-866-683-5907 x300. Please provide your name, address and telephone number and specify which month you are registering for. Attendance at the entire 6 hours is required to receive a certificate. You must be registered to attend.

Cumberland Non-Profit Housing Corporation: Contact Eric Krohn at 717-532-3105