Important Announcement
Funding availability for the Home$tart Program will be announced on or around March 1, 2012.
In the meantime, members may continue to enroll eligible homebuyers
on a first-come, first-served basis as funds become available from previously-committed
subsidy.
The Home$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 $42 million to help more than
8,500 first-time homebuyers purchase their first homes (as of December 31, 2010).
For Homebuyers
Prospective homebuyers must apply for grants through a Seattle Bank
participating member financial institution. The contacts listed on this page can provide more information
about Home$tart and how to apply.
For Member Financial Institutions
To participate in Home$tart, Seattle Bank members must complete and submit a one-time
Member Application for New Home$tart and
Home$tart Plus Programs Participants. Additionally, members must sign and return a
Home$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 Program
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. Please do not submit
an enrollment before checking the availability of funds.
To learn more about Home$tart, please review:
Questions? Please contact Community Programs Analyst
Craig Horton (206.340.2436).