City-wide 1% Home Improvement Loans Starting May 3rd

Thanks to Mayor Miner and the Syracuse Common Council, more than 100 city homeowners will have the opportunity to make affordable exterior home improvements beginning Monday, May 3rd. The City-wide 1% Home Improvement Loan Program is available to households that fall under 80% of the area median income (see HUD income limits here), are current on water and property taxes and have current homeowners insurance. Applications are available at Home HeadQuarters or on the website beginning May 3rd at www.homehq.org.

SHARP Mini-Grants Available
April 30th

Grants of up to $1,000 for minor home repair will be available, on a first come, first served basis beginning Friday, April 30th. The grants, for any minor home repair, are available to households that fall below 80% of the area median income (see HUD income limits here), are current on water and property taxes and have current homeowners insurance. Homeowners are required to match the grant with 10% of their own funds. Thanks to our SHARP partner agencies: SUN, Jubilee Homes, NEHDA, Southside Interfaith and Catholic Charities.

New Homebuyers Set to Enjoy Symphony

Home HeadQuarters’ new homebuyers will receive an extra benefit from homeownership this year by receiving two free tickets to the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra 2010-2011 season. Our world-class, 80-member Syracuse Symphony is celebrating its 50th year this upcoming season with guest conductors, Broadway and Big Band shows and with classics like Beethoven and Bach amongst their more than 200 concerts here and throughout New York State and 17 other countries (sorry, the free tickets only count for New York!). For more information on the HHQ/SSO New Homebuyer Incentive Program, contact Karen at info@homehq.org.

What can you get for a dollar?

Well, if you’re Rick Destito it turns out you can get one dream house—with plenty of hard work thrown in. Rick purchased Home HeadQuarters’ first "Create Your Space - $1 Property" almost 18 months ago with just $1 dollar, a full rehab plan, proof that he could finance the renovation and a promise to live in the property for a minimum of three years. The $1 properties are part of the overall near Westside neighborhood housing plan that includes new construction, full and partial rehabs, removal of seriously blighted and unsound properties and transitional housing for potential homeowners. For Rick, the $1 properties provided a perfect homeownership opportunity, "…how often does an opportunity like this come along? No mortgage to worry about and the house is me, parts of my life, all of it is me."

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Behind the Scenes - Part II

Last month we mentioned many projects that Home HeadQuarters participates in somewhat "behind the scenes." Another such project that we are particularly excited about is our partnership with Christopher Community on the Near Westside. Home HeadQuarters worked to assemble multiple vacant properties for Christopher Community so that they could develop quality rental properties for low income families. Home HeadQuarters is also working with Housing Visions here in Syracuse and HomSite in Auburn on a state grant application for new construction and purchase rehab funding. Stay tuned for Part III!

Home of the Month!

501 Marcellus St.
$76,000 to eligible buyers

This 2-unit home is currently undergoing a full rehab. The first floor unit has an open floor plan, one bedroom and one bathroom.  The second floor unit has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a formal dining room.  Laundry room located in each unit. 

Volunteer Value

Independent Sector, a leadership forum for charities, foundations and corporate giving, just announced that the estimated value of a volunteer hour reached $20.85 in 2009, up 60 cents from 2008. We think they need to at least double that value for our Annual Block Blitz volunteers…speaking of which, have you signed up yet?

Open Position

Grant Writer/Data Specialist

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