I wrote a post a few months ago about the Gwinnett County Homestretch Program.  It is a REALLY cool program for buyers with qualified incomes.  The actual caps change regularly, but follow HUD limits.  Buyers also have to go through a financial counseling class.

But the end result is that buyers get $7,500 in Down Payment Assistance.  This is money that does NOT need to be repaid, as long as the buyer stays in the home at least 5 years.

Earlier in the year, when I wrote the post, funds were available even for existing home owners, not just first time home buyers.  Since that time, Gwinnett County has changed that… they ran out of funds for existing home owners.  But they still have plenty of funds available for first time home buyers (remember, to qualify as a first time home buyer, you can’t have owned a home for the last three years).  BTW, please don’t think that there is a way around that by not having a spouse on the title or something.  It doesn’t work…

In order to qualify, the buyer needs to have $1000 in the deal.  I recently was asked what qualified as part of the $1000…  Did the inspection count?  Did the earnest money count?  I wasn’t asked about the appraisal…  Here are the short answers.

• The inspection doesn’t count.  I ALWAYS recommend that buyers get an inspection, but it isn’t part of the $1000 that the buyer has “in the deal.”
• The appraisal DOES count.  It is a requirement, and it is a closing cost.  The funds CAN be used to pay closing costs.
• The earnest money is actually like a security deposit.  It is money credited toward the closing and/or down payment, so therefore it DOES count.

One thing to keep in mind… money can NOT flow back to the buyer at closing.  Even if they overpay closing costs, they can’t be refunded at closing.  Ken Cook (of America Home Key) and I have been through the rules and know how the program works.  If you want to see if YOU qualify, contact us.

We’d love to help you buy a home.  There are great deals on the market right now, and interest rates are exceptional.  For more info, click here. There are other Down Payment Assistance programs available around the Metro Atlanta area.

Here is my video from the original post.