(From the City of Joplin)
The City of Joplin’s Homebuyer Assistance Program (J-HAP) is now offering an Energy Star program incentive for homebuyers. This new incentive will provide an additional homebuyer subsidy of $5,000 to be applied to the purchase price of a new, never-occupied home in accordance with existing J-HAP subsidy requirements and restrictions. The subsidy is provided to the home buyer, not the home builder. Funds for this subsidy will be available until J-HAP program funds are exhausted.
“This is another tool that the City is able to offer citizens who are looking to home ownership,” said Larry Eller, a Program Manager of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grant. “J-HAP has provided nearly $9.6 million of assistance to help more than 360 buyers into a home. This new incentive offers additional benefits to those interested in purchasing a home.”
Energy Star certified new homes are designed and built to standards well above most other homes on the market today, delivering energy efficiency savings of up to 30 percent when compared to typical new homes. Benefits of owning an ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED HOME include reduced ownership costs as a result of:
• More efficient appliances
• Properly installed and inspected insulation
• Higher efficiency windows
• Tight construction and correctly installed duct system
• Quieter and more efficient HVAC system
• Improved air quality
In order to qualify for this incentive, the following conditions must be satisfied:
1. The home will be newly constructed and never occupied.
2. The homebuyer will provide the J-HAP program with the home’s Energy Star certificate.
3. The homebuyer will provide the J-HAP program with the Final Home Energy Rating System (HERS) report.
4. The homebuyer will provide the J-HAP program with the Energy Rater’s RESNET certification.
5. J-HAP funds are available until the City’s J-HAP funds are exhausted and expended. There will be no reservation of funds for this program.
Launched in August, 2013, J-HAP was implemented to assist eligible homebuyers with down-payment and/or closing costs. Funding assistance for this program is being provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) award, which was received as a result of the May 22, 2011 tornado.
J-HAP is intended to repopulate the tornado affected area and not limited to first-time homebuyers or to those strictly affected by the tornado. Joplin residents and others interested in moving to Joplin can learn more about the J-HAP qualifications and guidelines by logging onto the City’s CDBG-DR website under the J-HAP information link at http://www.joplinmo.org/cdbg-dr . Full eligibility requirements will be provided at the time of application to the program. Individuals who have additional questions or who are interested in applying for the J-HAP should call the J-HAP Program Office at 417-850-2249 to schedule an appointment. A J-HAP Application Packet may obtained by submitting a request to the J-HAP Program Office by e-mail at JHAP@joplinmo.org or in person at 602 S. Main Street Joplin, MO 64801.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) are available within the J-HAP information link at www.joplinmo.org/cdbg-dr or by clicking on the link at the end of this article.
We encourage all potential applicants, agents, lenders, and builders to please refer to the FAQs, or contact the J-HAP Program Office with any questions or concerns at 417-850-2249.
J-HAP applicants are encouraged to work with local realtors and homebuilders to find homes that qualify for this additional subsidy. For more information about the Energy Star program, contact: Larry Eller CDBG Program Manager, 417-624-0820, extension 572. The J-HAP Program Office is located in the Main Lobby of Joplin City Hall at 602 S. Main Street in Joplin.
To view FAQ's on J-HAP....
No comments:
Post a Comment