Happy belated Memorial Day and
beginning of another wonderful Maine summer. If you are a
Maine resident in the process of buying, selling or improving a residential
property in the near future, then the Maine State Housing Authority is an
excellent resource available to assist you.
The Maine State Housing Authority
(MaineHousing) is an independent authority created by the Maine State Legislature
in 1969 to address problems of unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded and unaffordable
housing.
On February 27,2019 MaineHousing
celebrated fifty years of providing affordable housing opportunities for Maine
people. By
combining the efficiencies of the private financial markets with public housing
goals, MaineHousing has been able to improve affordable home ownership and
rental housing for many. Since its
inception, the agency has taken on many additional duties including a number of
federal housing related programs intended to reduce housing costs for Maine
people. If you are buying, selling, a first-time buyer, or a homeowner
interested in reducing home energy consumption then MaineHousing has a program
for you.
Let's review a few of the many programs
available to qualified Maine residents.
One of the more exciting programs
offered by MaineHousing is the First Home Loan Program. Qualified first-time buyers can
enjoy a low interest rate mortgage and a $3500 credit towards closing costs
with little or no money down. MaineHousing
also offers many programs to assist homeowners with home improvement needs by
providing grants or low-cost loans for health and safety related repairs and
improvements. This may include electrical and structural repairs. The Veteran Home loan program
provides very favorable interest rates to all active, reserve or retired Maine
Veterans.
The Energy Assistance program provides
much needed energy assistance for qualified households. This may come in the
form of energy improvements such as new insulation, a new heating system or in
some cases paying electrical bills.
The Arsenic Abatement Program offers
grants to eligible single-family homeowners and landlords with private wells
where water testing shows evidence of arsenic contamination. Arsenic, a
tasteless, odorless, toxic gas has been found in many Maine wells. In addition, many older homes in
Maine have lead based paint. The
Lead Paint Hazard Remediation Program offers funding to single family
households and rental property owners to help make their homes and rental
properties safe and free of lead paint.
These are just some of the programs
that MaineHousing offers to qualified Maine residents. I hope you visit the
MaineHousing website at MaineHousing.org
or reach out to them at 1-800-452-4668 to learn more, there may be a program
for you. If
you have any questions or need any assistance with your real estate needs
please contact Kevin Ronan, associate broker affiliated with Alliance
Realty, 290 Bridgeton Road in Westbrook. Kronan388@gmail.com,
207-838-4855.
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