Realtors & Lenders
Realtors and Lenders seeking to help residents purchase affordable homes in Bay County are encouraged to connect current and future clients to ReHouse Bay home buying assistance. The First-Time Home Buyer program helps with down payment and closing costs.
To learn more about the Program from the Realtor’s/Lender’s perspective, see the Realtor/Lender Purchase Assistance Program Guidance. Additionally, see below to learn how you can support recovery efforts by assisting residents in purchasing homes in Bay County.
Purchase Assistance Program Training
On February 10, 2022, Bay County held a Purchase Assistance Program training for realtors, lenders, and title companies. This training has been recorded and is posted below along with a list of FAQs.
Housing Assistance Survey
To help your prospective homebuyer determine if they meet basic criteria for the program, first direct them to this short Housing Assistance Survey. The Housing Assistance Survey helps prospective homebuyers evaluate whether the Home Purchasing Support Program is right for them (based on household income and other factors) and if it is worth their time to apply.
Online Application
Next, interested homebuyers will complete the housing support application online. Once the application is completed, they will be contacted by a ReHouse Bay intake specialist to schedule an appointment for next steps and discuss what other documentation is needed to move forward in the process.
First-Time Homebuyer Training
Prior to submitting an application, applicants must have completed a homebuyer education course. Bay County, through the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS), offers monthly homebuyer education courses. This opportunity is also open to individuals who may not be quite ready for homeownership but want to prepare for the future.
To learn more about this Program or to register a prospective applicant for an upcoming homebuyer education course, contact Melanie Taylor with the UF/IFAS Bay County extension at (850) 784-6105.
Questions
If you have any questions or concerns about the program, please do not hesitate to reach out via email to the ReHouse Bay Team
Thank you for partnering with us to help families recover in the wake of Hurricane Michael!