Home$tart / Home$tart Plus

Important Announcements

Home$tart funds will be made available to eligible members on a first-come, first-served basis. Please refer to the 2010 AHP Implementation Plan (pdf) for detailed information regarding program requirements.

We invite participating members to order Home$tart Program posters and brochures to support their marketing efforts. Online Order Form.

The Home$tart Program promotes homeownership by helping first-time homebuyers earning up to 80 percent of their area’s median income, adjusted for family size, purchase a home.

  • The Home$tart Program provides $3 for every $1 of a household's funds up to $5,000.
  • The Home$tart Plus Program provides households receiving public housing assistance with $2 for every $1 of the household’s funds, up to $10,000.
  • Home$tart 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 household’s primary residence. Grants may be used in combination with funds from other sources.
  • Since its inception in 1995, Home$tart has granted more than $41.4 million to help more than 8,400 first-time homebuyers purchase their first homes (figures are as of December 31, 2009)
For Homebuyers

Prospective homebuyers must apply for grants through a Seattle Bank participating member financial institution.

For Member Financial Institutions

To participate in Home$tart, Seattle Bank members must complete and submit a one-time Application for the Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs. Additionally, members must sign and return a Home$tart Regulatory Agreement that governs the program year in which the member is participating.

If a member is currently participating in the Seattle Bank’s Home$tart Program, they may enroll new homebuyers at any time subject to funds availability. Enrollment and Disbursement Forms.

If a member is not currently participating in the Seattle Bank’s Home$tart Program, but would like to do so, please contact Craig Horton, Community Programs Analyst (206.340.2436).

To determine if first-come, first-served funds are available, please log on to the Community Investments online application. Please do not submit an enrollment before checking the availability of funds.

To learn more about Home$tart:

If you are a prospective homebuyer, please see our list of participating member financial institutions. The contacts listed on this page can provide more information about Home$tart and how to apply.