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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Incentive plan: Cops, firefighters and soldiers could get deep discounts to live in Flint
By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
on February 11, 2013 at 7:00 AM, updated February 11, 2013 at 2:11 PM
ThFLINT, MI -- Here's an idea for putting more cops on city streets: Deep discounts on already remodeled homes as an incentive to live where they work.
Genesee County Land Bank officials are developing a program to cut the list price of tax-foreclosed, rehabilitated homes by 30 percent for police officers, firefighters, and soldiers.
County Commissioner Omar Sims, D-Flint, suggested the incentive last month, saying it has the potential to preserve neighborhoods that might otherwise deteriorate because of neglect, vacancy and crime.
"They are trying to build stability," Sims said. "This would mean somebody would be there and be paying local taxes."
The visible presence of a service member, firefighter or police officer could be exactly what's needed in neighborhoods where the Land Bank has 17 homes on the market now -- houses that were lost by previous owners through tax foreclosures and that have been remodeled with Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds.
NSP is a federally-funded grant program aimed at redeveloping communities like Flint that have been blighted by abandoned and foreclosed homes.
Land Bank Executive Director Doug Weiland said he's waiting for assurance that the county won't jeopardize grant funds from the NSP program by offering the third-off discount.
But both he and the president of the Flint Police Officers Association said they support the concept.
"I think it's a good idea," Weiland said. "I think any police officer or firemen who wanted to apply we (should) work with them on some special pricing. The city could do the same" with its NSP homes.
Land Bank NSP homes on the market now are priced from $25,000 to $45,000 and there are income requirements -- no more than $46,000 in gross income for an individual -- to qualify.
Buyers also have to agree to live in the home for a minimum of five years.
An entry level police officer makes about $33,000 a year.
Flint is planning to hire 10 new police officers with the proceeds from a new public safety property tax approved by voters last year, a development that prompted Sims to suggest the new program.
"It's an idea to get those employees into the city," he said. "We have to provide an incentive."
Officer Kevin Smith, president of the FPOA, said the concept of the discount program is similar to a national Good Neighbor Next Door Program, which gave incentives to police, firefighters and some teachers for buying homes in "revitalization areas."
These are the type of "thing we need to take a look at," Smith said. "It's a great idea.
"We're the most violent city in America, and I don't see anything (being proposed to deal with it) other than what the sheriff is coming up with." |
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Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:13 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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I see kevin Smith has been doing his home work! Here is a sample program from Texas.
Welcome to GoodNeighborNextDoor.com
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) wants to make American communities stronger, promote home ownership, build a safer nation, and take an active role in the revitalization of cities. The purpose of the Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) sales program is to improve the quality of life in urban communities by encouraging Law Enforcement Officers, Teachers (PreK-12), Firefighters, and Emergency Responders (EMTs) to purchase and live in homes in these communities.
What are the benefits for the Participant?
The lottery winner may purchase the property at a 50 percent discount from the current "AS IS" APPRAISED VALUE which is the LIST PRICE. For example, if the home has a LIST PRICE of $150,000, a participant can buy it for $75,000. You can also apply for an FHA-insured mortgage with a down payment of only $100 and you may finance all closing costs, repairs, improvements, appliances and all acquisition expenses. You must live in the home for three years to take complete advantage of the grant, but after that you can sell the home and keep all the profit.
If the home you want to purchase needs updating or repairs, you may use FHA's 203(K) or the new 203(K) Streamline Mortgage program. This mortgage option allows you to finance both the purchase of the home and any needed repairs and/or updates you want to make to the home. You have the benefit of one loan for both costs and one monthly payment. It is a home improvement loan and property acquisition loan combined in one.
Who can participate?
All participants must be employed full-time by a federal, state, county, municipal government, Indian tribal government, division of local government, or public/private school. Current homeowners CAN NOT participate and neither you nor your spouse can have owned any other residential real estate for 1 year prior to lottery submission.
Law Enforcement Officers
You must be sworn to uphold and make arrests for violations of the law. Your employer must certify that you are sworn to uphold, and make arrests for violations of, federal, state, tribal, county, township, or municipal laws. Law Enforcement Officers are restricted to GNND homes that are within a reasonable commuting distance, since the home must be their sole residence. Federal Law Enforcement officers are the only area UNRESTRICTED participants in the GNND program.
Teachers
You must be employed as a teacher by a state-accredited public school or private school that provides direct services to students in grades Prekindergarten through 12th grade. Also the public or private school where the person is employed as a teacher serves students from the area where the home is located in the normal course of business.
Firefighters & Emergency Medical Technicians
You must be employed as a Firefighter or Emergency Medical Technician by a fire department or emergency medical services responder unit of the federal government, a state, unit of general local government, or an Indian tribal government serving the area where the home is located.
What are odds of winning?
Very good! The odds of winning are directly proportional to the number of entries. Many homes have been awarded to participants because they were the only lottery entry. If one Teacher, one Firefighter and one Officer were all in the lottery drawing for the same home, everyone has an equal chance and 33% chance of winning. |
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Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:17 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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This site lets a person click on the state they are interested in and view the available HUD homes. There are options for search criteria and links to other programs.
HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Home Buying Program | HUD ...
www.hudhomestore.com/Home/GNND.aspx
Buying a home through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door initiative is designed to encourage renewal of revitalization areas by providing an opportunity for law |
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Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:21 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| The only problem with the proposal for newly hired officers is the millage proposes significant reductions in the police force after 2 years. Unless there are a great number of retiring officers, these new officers may no longer have a job. This is not the stability One would want before entering into a new home mortgage. |
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Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:31 pm |
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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
I see kevin Smith has been doing his home work!
What's the connection?
I see the property at 2608 Miller that he signed over (gave) to a disabled individual in dire circumstances a couple years ago has a huge for sale sign in front, and tax records show it is in forfeiture. City of Flint shows the "owner" only claims 50% homestead for that property. He is also shown homeowner at his previous Flint property with 0% homestead and a mailing address of Jamesville, NY (with the NY street address spelled wrong on tax rolls); this property is also in forfeiture.
I am pretty sure Mr. Smith's heart was in the right place at the time when he gave the man the property but it is apparent the recipient didn't have the resources (and maybe the ability otherwise) to maintain the property taxes at either place, and/or the wherewithal to dispose of the previously abandoned(?) property. There was quite a writeup of this story in the Flint Journal at the time and I followed it with interest because I used to know a disabled individual who was adament that he could manage his own limited financial resources.
The person I knew ended up losing his property because he was unable to manage on his own--and because others continually took advantage of his incapacity. He was beyond age of majority but of teen mentality and maturity. |
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Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:51 pm |
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