THOMASVILLE, GA – September 27, 2016 – The City of Thomasville Planning Department is now accepting applications for grants that will help local citizens make the dream of home ownership a reality. In June, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded $612,000 in grant-funding to Thomasville in order to build new, single family homes. The awards were made through the 2016 Community HOME Investment Program.
“The Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP) is designed to assist potential homebuyers with a deferred payment loan of up to $14,999 towards the purchase of a new house to be constructed on property owned by the Thomasville-Thomas County Land Bank Authority,” said Charlotte Christian, CHIP Grant Consultant. “This means that once a buyer contributes a minimum of $1,000 towards their down payment, they can receive a forgivable loan of just under $15,000 to assist with the purchase.”
The new homes will be priced at an average of $19,000 less than market value. In some cases, additional down payment assistance may be available. The price of the house will depend on location, size and other factors. In addition, homebuyer education is required for those that would like to pursue the CHIP program grant.
“This is a program that is designed to help potential homebuyers transition from renter to homeowners,” said Christian. “Applicants will have the opportunity to choose their lot and house plan from an available selection once they have loan approval. These are homes of quality that meet energy efficiency standards.”
Potential applicants for the CHIP program grant can learn more information at an upcoming Regional Housing Fair, scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, 2016, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Southern Regional Technical College.
The Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force will present two workshops, one focused on pre-purchase and the second on post-purchase topics. In the pre-purchase session, participants will learn how to build or re-establish credit, how to get a loan, and more about fair housing options. Post-purchase topics include increasing home value, refinancing your home and rehabilitation opportunities.
For more information on the housing fair or the CHIP program, please contact the City of Thomasville Planning Department or Christian by email at Charlotte.Christian@thomasville.org or by telephone at 229.292.0823. You can also learn more by visting the Planning Department on thomasville.org.