First-Time Homebuyer & Homeowner Assistance

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September 9, 2022
Over the holiday weekend, the Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church brought back their Odyssey Festival!

I had an amazing time

seeing friends, celebrating this wonderful country and culture, and trying a baklava sundae - Spoiler Alert: it was amazing! We are so lucky to be apart of a community rich in culture.

Thank you again to all of the volunteers and organizers with

the Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, you really put on a great event.
 
Energy Assistance Applications Open
This is a friendly reminder that the application period for the 2022-2023 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) opened last week!

Basic benefits toward heating bills are around $400 for the season, but can be significantly higher depending on the household’s income and number of family members. Benefits are available for households with incomes up to roughly $76,400 for a family of four.

How to Apply:

Applications for the 2022-2023 winter season must be received by May 31, 2023. For more information, click here, or call 2-1-1.

 
First-Time Homebuyer & Homeowner Assistance
If you are a first-time homebuyer looking for the perfect house, or if you are already a homeowner but just need some assistance, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) is offering two programs that may offer the resources and assistance you need.

Please find information below on the Time to Own - Forgivable Down Payment Assistance Loan and the MYHomeCT Program.
 
For a limited time, CHFA will offer the Time To Own - Forgivable Down Payment Assistance Loan to help alleviate potential homebuyers' inability to cover the down payment and closing costs required to purchase their first home.

The Time To Own Loan is available to eligible homebuyers in conjunction with a CHFA first mortgage loan. Eligible homebuyers may also take advantage of the CHFA Down Payment Assistance (DAP) loan, in addition to the Time To Own - Forgivable Down Payment Assistance loan Program.

Benefits:
  • 0% Interest rate with no monthly payment required
  • 10% of the principal balance will be forgiven annually, on the anniversary date of the loan closing, until the loan is fully forgiven on the tenth anniversary
  • Financing to cover up to 20% down payment and up to 5% closing costs
  • Loan amounts up to $50,000 for homes located in High or Very High Opportunity Areas
  • Loan amounts up to $25,000 for homes located in areas other than High or Very High Opportunity Areas
Eligibility Requirements:
  • The Time To Own loan is only available to eligible applicants that qualify for and receive a CHFA first mortgage
  • The Time To Own loan may also be used in conjunction with other down payment assistance programs
  • Applicants must be a current resident of Connecticut and able to demonstrate residency for the most recent three (3) years
  • Applicants who are not first - time homebuyers may also apply if they plan to purchase in a targeted area of the state.  Borrowers may not own any other property at the time of the CHFA mortgage closing
Additional Considerations:
  • The minimum Time To Own loan amount is $3,000
  • Applicants must meet all CHFA first mortgage and Time To Own loan program eligibility and underwriting criteria.  The CHFA- Participating Lender will work with applicants to determine complete program eligibility requirements
  • Learn more about taking the first steps to becoming a homeowner here

Additional Program Resources:
Apply for Time to Own Loan
 
Connecticut has been awarded approximately $123 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (“HAF”) program. The HAF Program in the State of CT is known as MyHomeCT and is being administered by the CHFA. Homeowners can apply for up to $50,000 in grant assistance.

Benefits:
  • Mortgage delinquencies/payment assistance
  • Non-escrowed real estate taxes (not included in mortgage payment)
  • Condominium and/or homeowners’ association fees or special assessments
  • Non-escrowed (not included in mortgage payment) homeowners’ insurance and flood insurance
  • Water and sewer liens
  • Ground lease or lot payments
  • Fees that were advanced by the loan servicer/lender on behalf of an applicant with a reverse mortgage

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicant must live in the state of Connecticut and occupy the property as their primary residence
  • Applicant/household member must have experienced a COVID-19 related financial hardship after January 21, 2020, or experienced a financial hardship before January 21, 2020, which was then exacerbated by the pandemic. Assistance for a delinquency prior to January 21, 2020, is capped to three months
  • Property must be an owner-occupied 1-to-4 unit house, condominium, townhouse, or manufactured home
  • Homeowners applying for mortgage assistance must have a mortgage that had a principal balance at or below the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at time of origination
  • Household income must be equal to or less than 150% area median income (AMI), adjusted for household size

Additional Program Resources:
Apply for MyHomeCT
 
Suicide Prevention Week
Suicide prevention begins with all of us. Learn about the risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs of suicide here.

Call or text 988 to access the

 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7, 988 gives you access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.
 
Orange County Fair
Mark your calendars! The Orange Country Fair will be running September 17th & 18th at High Plains Fairgrounds.

Heads up! Many tractors for display are driven in on Friday evening - keep an eye out on the roads to keep everyone safe.

This is always a wonderful community event and I hope to see you there!
 
Derby September 11 Ceremony
The City of Derby and the Derby Fire Department are scheduled to hold the annual September 11 remembrance ceremony at 10AM this Sunday.

The event will be held on the Derby Green at the September 11 Memorial, which was dedicated in 2014.

Local, state, and federal officials are expected to attend. The event is open to anyone.

Click here to learn more on the event's Facebook Page.
 
Orange Community Farmers' Market
The Town of Orange continues its Community Farmers' Market every Thursday from 3:30PM - 7:00PM through September 29th!

They are located at the Pavilion of the High Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Road.

Products are only the best certified and Connecticut grown ranging from:
  • Bakery products
  • Eggs
  • Flowers
  • Milk
  • Meats
  • Soaps
  • Plants
  • In-season vegetables
  • Crafts and services

Each week there will be vendors showcasing the freshest products. If you do not see something you want, contact the Market Master.
 
Derby Summer Concert Series

The City of Derby is continuing its 2022 Concert Series on the Derby Green!

Now that it is officially September, the series will then continue on Friday nights from 6:30PM to 8:30PM:

  • TONIGHT - Chris Coogan - Jazz Quintet
  • September 16 - The Bernadettes - R&B, Funk, & Soul Show Band
  • September 23 - Rich Bobinski Orchestra - Oktoberfest / Polka Music
  • September 30 - Larry Ayce Band - Country
  • October 7 - Mark Lanzieri and Friends - Italian / Sinatra
There will be no rain date for Friday night concerts.
 
In The News
 
Aid for Ukraine
As we continue to watch the horrifying and saddening conflict between Russia and Ukraine, I wanted to remind you all that we do not have to sit back helplessly, there are ways we can offer aid and support to the innocent citizens of Ukraine.

Fellow community member, Olena Lennon, provided us with this list of legitimate donation sites for aid to the Ukrainian community.

Click here to help volunteer to help Ukraine.

Click here to learn more about projects helping Ukraine.

Click here to support funding to cover administrative costs to help Ukraine.

Click here to learn how to help Ukrainians.

Our community, state and country all stand with the innocent citizens of Ukraine and we will continue to do all we can to offer support while actively trying to deescalate conflict.