Home$tart / Home$tart Plus

Important Announcement

The Seattle Bank is pleased to announce the availability of $2.0 million for the 2013 Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs. On April 1, 2013:

  • $2.0 million of Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Program funds will be made available to all Seattle Bank members on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Home$tart funding will be limited to eligible first-time homebuyers until one-third of the 2013 program pool has been allocated, at which time members may also enroll non-first-time homebuyers who are otherwise eligible to participate in the program. We will notify participating members when non-first-time homebuyers may be enrolled.

Members may enroll eligible households in the Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs once the Seattle Bank has received a properly signed 2013 Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Regulatory Agreement. Regulatory agreements for the 2013 program year were sent to previous participants on March 1, 2013.

If you are not currently participating in the Home$tart and/or Home$tart Plus Program but would like to do so, please contact Mandie Ludlam (206.340.2389) or Allegra Carscallen (206.340.8702).

Home$tart and Home$tart Plus promote homeownership by helping homebuyers earning up to 80 percent of area median income, adjusted for family size, purchase a home.

  • The Home$tart Program provides $3 for every $1 of a homebuyer's demonstrated funds up to $5,000.
  • The Home$tart Plus Program provides homebuyers currently receiving public housing assistance with $2 for every $1 of the homebuyer’s demonstrated funds, up to $10,000.
  • Home$tart and Home$tart Plus grants may be used for downpayments, closing costs, or rehabilitation of an owner-occupied housing unit, including a condominium or cooperative housing unit, to be used as the homebuyer’s primary residence. Grants may be used in combination with funds from other sources.

Since their inception in 1995, Home$tart and Home$tart Plus have granted nearly $43.5 million to help more than 8,800 first-time homebuyers purchase their first homes (as of December 31, 2012).

For Homebuyers

Prospective homebuyers must apply for grants through a Seattle Bank participating member financial institution. The contacts listed on this page can provide more information about Home$tart and Home$tart Plus and how to apply.

For Member Financial Institutions

To participate in Home$tart and Home$tart Plus, Seattle Bank members must have a one-time Member Application for New Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs Participants on file. Additionally, members must properly sign and return a Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Regulatory Agreement that governs the program year in which the member is participating.

Members currently participating in the Seattle Bank’s Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs may enroll new homebuyers at any time subject to funds availability. To determine if first-come, first-served funds are available, please log on to Community Investments Services section of our website. Please do not submit an enrollment before checking the availability of funds.

To learn more about Home$tart and Home$tart Plus, please review:

Questions? Please contact Community Programs Analysts, Mandie Ludlam (206.340.2389) or Allegra Carscallen (206.340.8702).