Assistance for Housing

Mennonite Housing will evaluate your application information with emphasis on income, family size, credit history and household debt. These are significant factors that lenders will look at when qualifying an applicant for a mortgage loan. As to credit history, one of the very first things we do with everyone that we work with is to do a credit report check. In order for Mennonite Housing to inquire into your credit history we will have you sign an Authorization to Release Information Form. This authorization gives us your permission to reproduce a computer generated credit history as well as talk to lenders about your financial picture as it pertains to mortgage approval. Currently, we are using Annualcreditreport.com a website created by the Federal Government so that anyone can look at their credit once a year from all three credit bureaus.

Once we have the report done we will suggest the best approach to take for mortgage approval. In addition to credit score and listings of negative and positive credit, there is a list of phone numbers for the agencies involved with your credit. If you have had any civil judgments, tax liens or bankruptcies, that information will also be shown.

If you must take time to resolve your credit issues we will keep your information on file for a period of one year. It is our hope that with time you will resolve your credit issues and that we can move forward to serve you and help you realize your dreams of owning your own home.

Neighborhood revitalization areas. See legend below. A detailed description of the legend appears underneath the map.

LIA - Local Investment Areas
NRA - Neighborhood Revitalization Areas

City of Wichita's HOME Program New Construction Infill Housing Incentives Program

The New Construction Infill Program works in unison with local lenders, builders, realtors, and title companies, to provide affordable new homes to low-income families in the City's Local Investment Areas (see map). If approved, applicants will receive up to 20% of the purchase price of the home for down payment assistance and up to $2,000 in closing costs assistance. Applicants must be able to qualify for first mortgage financing subject to program standards.

Assistance is provided in the form of a zero-interest, deferred loan secured by a second mortgage. This deferred loan will be payable to the City when you sell your home, no longer occupy your home as your primary residence, or upon refinancing your first mortgage. One-half of this loan will be forgiven following a period of 10 years, provided you own and occupy the home during the entire 10-year period.

Home ownership training is required for first-time homeowners, and is conducted in partnership with local non-profit agencies.

Applicants must be able to contribute $1,000 of their own money to complete the purchase. Household income may not exceed the following amounts, based on household size:

1 - $38,850
2 - $44,400
3 - $49,9504
4 - $55,500
5 - $59,950
6 - $64,400
7 - $68,850
8 - $73,300

Homes must comply with the current version of the Model Energy Code requirements.

In addition to the standard benefit, persons with physical disabilities may be eligible for modifications to make the new home accessible.

Other Incentives available within the entire Neighborhood Revitalization Area/Local Investment Areas.

The City offers waivers of Building Permit Fees and Water/Sewer Tap Plant Equity Fees in the Neighborhood Revitalization Area and Local Investment Areas (see map). These fees normally exceed $4,500 in connection with the construction of a single-family home. A partial waiver of building permit fees applies to re-modeling and home improvement projects when the building permit value exceeds $10,000.

Revised 07/2016

The purpose of the Section 8 Home Ownership Program is to assist households with the purchase of a home by applying housing assistance payments (vouchers) to monthly mortgage payments.

THINGS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

• Assistance governed by the S8 Voucher Program Guidelines; therefore the buyer can expect the continuance of annual income re-certifications.
• The home you purchase must meet housing quality standards, however the buyer will NOT be subject to annual house inspections.
• Voucher assistance is limited to 15 years and will be secured with a mortgage.
• You may be eligible for Homeownership 80 program that helps with down payment and closing costs if the purchased home is in the program area.
• Purchase of Public Housing units may be possible.
• For up to ten years after purchase, the City will recapture a percentage of the assistance provided if the buyer sells or refinances the home.

REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE

1. Home buyer must be an active Section 8 client.
2. You must be first-time homeowner, that is, not owned a home for three years (some exceptions do apply).
3. Household income must be a minimum of $10,300 per year.
4. One or more of the adults in the household must work 30 hours per week or more AND be employed steadily for the past 12 months, unless the primary source of income is from a pension fund, disability benefit or other similar source.
5. Income counted toward meeting income requirements may not include welfare assistance, except for the elderly or disabled.
6. Prospective buyer must attend an approved homeowner-training course.
7. Household must be able to secure their own financing (a mortgage loan) and financing must comply with all requirements/restrictions.
8. House must be within the Wichita city limits or, if considering porting out, the receiving jurisdiction must have a S8 home ownership assistance program.
9. Buyer must participate in the Maintenance Reserve Program (around $10 to $15 per month), which covers extraordinary maintenance repairs beyond normal wear and tear.
10. Buyer must invest from their own money a minimum of $500 or 1 % of purchase price (whichever is greater).
11. Buyer will need to arrange and pay for an independent house inspection (about $180).

STEPS TO TAKE TO SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE

1. Contact Wichita Home Ownership Department (462-3700) and request an application for the Section 8 Home Ownership Program.
2. Drop off or mail application materials and ALL other necessary documents outlined in the application to our office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Monday through Friday.

Drop off or mail completed application and ALL necessary documentation to:

Wichita Housing Services
Home Ownership Department
332 N. Riverview
Wichita, KS 67203

Program Overview Application Insert