Fulton County, Georgia – This June, Fulton County is putting a spotlight on the dream of owning a house in recognition of National Homeownership Month. The Community Development Department of the county wants to remind people that owning a house is possible. There are several programs and forms of help available for individuals who are ready to take that first step.
The Homeownership Program, or HOP, is one of the most important things that has been talked about. This program is meant to help first-time homebuyers who might have trouble getting into the housing market on their own. HOP helps people who qualify by giving them reasonable mortgage options and, most importantly, money to help with down payments, closing costs, and even lower interest rates.
HOP can help with the upfront costs that make it hard to buy a home for people who qualify. It can pay for up to 7.5% of the home’s sale price, which is up to $22,500. The help is for people and families with low to moderate incomes, and its goal is to make it simpler for them to acquire a home that they can really call home.
It’s important to remember some rules. Buyers must be acquiring their first home—or at least not having owned one in the prior three years—and their household income needs to fall within predetermined parameters. Most of Fulton County’s households can join the program, although several cities, like Atlanta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, South Fulton, Chattahoochee Hills, and Johns Creek, are not allowed.
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Before getting money from HOP, qualified purchasers also need to go through housing counseling. The county has worked with the Housing Consultants Group (HCG), a nonprofit organization that runs a lot of the program’s day-to-day operations, to help with this. HCG trains real estate agents and lenders, processes applications, and is always there to help homeowners through the whole process.
Fulton County is holding a virtual workshop on June 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. to get the word out. This online event will educate people who are interested in buying about the HOP program and how it works. You can sign up online, and everyone is welcome to join in and learn more.
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Fulton County’s message is clear as National Homeownership Month goes on: more people than ever before can own a home with the correct help. You may find out more about the Homeownership Program on the county’s website.
