Home Repairs

• Eligible Units: Single-family homes, commercial, or rental units (depending on the grant). Mobile homes are not eligible.
• Ownership: The applicant must own or be purchasing a property within the targeted area of the project. Ownership of property may also includes life estates and Contract for Deeds depending on which grant, as long as the CFD vendors and the Life Estate remaindermen fall under the SCDP income guideline as well. Trusts and properties with reverse mortgages are not eligible.
• Occupancy: The home to be improved must be the applicant’s principal place of residency. The applicant must live in the home a majority of the year.
• Eligible Repairs: Repairs that are permanent and necessary are eligible. Examples include roofing, foundations, siding, heating units, electrical, plumbing, and other health and safety items. Additions are not allowed.
• Real Estate Taxes, Mortgage & Property Insurance: An applicant must be current with their real estate taxes and Mortgage and the home must be insured while the loan is in place in order to receive a Housing Repair Loan.

The loans will be loaned as 0% deferred loans. This deferred loan requires no monthly payments, no interest will accrue and it will revert into a grant if the property does not change ownership within the time specified in the grant guidelines. With the exception on life estates or contract for deeds, which have no descending forgiveness.

• Average Loan: Average loan amount depends on the grant. Usually 70-80% grant funds and 20-30% owner match for project funding. UCAP will assist in determining the match and other resources that may be available to fund the match, if applicable.
• Income: Income guidelines for homeowners are determined by HUD section 8 and are based on 80% area median income. There are no income guidelines for commercial projects. Rental projects have different income rules.
• First-Come-First-Serve: Applicants are served on a first-come-first-serve basis, with the exception on waitlist criteria.

• UCAP will inspect the property, identify any housing problems, and will work with the applicant to determine what repairs should be done. LEAD RULES AND REGULATIONS DO APPLY. 
• The homeowner will select the contractor from a list of UCAP approved contractors that they would like to bid on their project and bid packets will be distributed to these contractors.
• The owner shall enter into a repayment agreement with the City to accept the conditions of the loan.  The repayment agreement will be filed at the County Recorder’s Office.
• Construction time length averages 90 days (contingent on favorable conditions).
• Upon project completion, a final inspection will be done and the project will be closed.

Eligible Home Improvements

Basic improvements to the livability, accessibility, energy efficiency and addressing lead paint hazards are eligible. Electrical wiring, furnace replacement, plumbing and septic repairs are just some of the possible repairs.