The funds are part of the $482,236 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funding from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation that the City received for the 2008-09 program year.

To qualify, the applicant must be earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income but the maximum annual income must not exceed the following limits:

Family size  

1 Person/$34,900
2 Persons/$39,900
3 Persons/$44,850
4 Persons/$49,850
5 Persons/$53,850
6 Persons/$57,850 
7 Persons/$61,800  
8 Persons/$65,800

The City will accept applications for the housing rehabilitation assistance program from Aug. 3-13. 

Applicants must complete a first-time homebuyer’s class and be approved for a mortgage prior to applying. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Down payment assistance will be awarded on a first-come, first-ready basis to persons owning homes within the City limits.

Source: www.cityofbradenton.com

• The deduction is worth 10 percent of a home’s value up to $8,000, which means all homes worth more than $80,000 could qualify for the maximum amount.

• There is an income limit to qualify. A married couples’ modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) should be under $150,000 and single filers’ MAGI should be less than $75,000.

• Partial tax credits may be available for married couples with MAGI incomes over $150,000 but under $170,000, and single filers with incomes over $75,000 but under $95,000.

• If married couples file separately, they can both claim 5 percent of the home purchase ($4,000 each for a home over $80,000) on their tax returns.

• It’s a tax credit, not a deduction. That means the entire amount goes back to the first-time homebuyer unlike deductions, such as mortgage interest, that are subtracted from gross income before tax is calculated. If qualified for $8,000, the buyer gets $8,000, even if they would not owe that much in taxes otherwise.

• The tax credit applies to homes purchased between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2009.

• The tax credit does not have to be paid back, providing the homebuyer keeps the property for at least 36 months and resides in the home.

• To qualify as a first-time homebuyer, the purchaser cannot have owned a home within the previous three-year period. However, ownership of a vacation home or rental home does not disqualify the buyer.

• If purchasing a new home, the effective date to receive the credit is the first day the homeowner actually lives in the house. If construction began in 2008, that buyer could still qualify. And if construction begins in 2009 but the owner does not take possession until 2010, the buyer would not qualify.

• The tax credit can be claimed on 2008 income tax forms even though the purchase took place in 2009. A buyer could close on a home the same day that President Obama signs it into law, fill out their income tax forms the next day, and receive the tax credit fairly quickly.

The tax credit is not a downpayment, but it could be used toward a downpayment if first-time homebuyers plan ahead. U.S. taxpayers have money withheld from every paycheck for income taxes. If they owe more tax than the amount deducted, they pay the IRS; if they owe less, they get a tax refund.

By anticipating at least an $8,000 refund in early 2010 when they file 2009 taxes, these buyers could cut down on their tax withholding this year and save the money toward a downpayment. There is one caveat, however: Should they not buy a home in the qualifying period, they would still owe the IRS the money, and reducing their withholding amount could result in a high bill at tax time.

Family size:            1 Person    2 Person    3 Person   4 Person   5 Person   6 Person   7 Person    8 Person

   $33,400      $38,150     $42,950   $47,700    $51,500    $55,350     $59,150    $62,950

The City will accept applications for the down payment assistance program starting January 20, 2009 until January 29, 2009. Applications will be available at the following locations:

City of Bradenton

Housing and Community Development Division

912 7^th Ave. E.

Bradenton, FL 34208

Hours: 7:30 am-5:30 pm Monday-Thursday

Bradenton City Hall

101 12^th St. W.

Bradenton, FL 34205

Hours: 7:30 am-5:30 pm Monday-Thursday

The applicants must be approved for a mortgage prior to applying for down payment assistance. Applicants must also complete a HUD approved first-time homebuyer’s homeownership training class and receive a certificate of completion prior to making or submitting an application. Down payment assistance will be awarded on a first-come, first-ready basis to persons purchasing homes within the City of Bradenton city limits.