How do I apply?
Interested persons should contact their local SHIP office for
additional information and/or to apply for the program.
Program Update! The
federal First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit (FTHBTC) program has been officially
extended as of November 6, 2009. This extension allows for homebuyers that have
an executed contract on a home on or before April 30, 2010 which is closed on
or by June 30, 2010 to apply for the tax credit.
This affects the Florida
Homebuyer Opportunity Program (FLHOP) administered through SHIP for the fiscal
year 2009-2010 due to the Legislative language for FLHOP providing that if the
FTHBTC is extended, then FHLOP is automatically extended.
In the extension of the FTHBTC,
provisions were added to allow for a tax credit of up to $6,500 for non-first
time homebuyers and for higher income limits. These provisions do not apply to
FHLOP due to the Legislative language restricting FLHOP funds to first time
homebuyers and to the established income limits of $75,000 for a single tax
filer and $150,000 for a joint tax filers.
If you have questions regarding
this extension, contact your local SHIP office.
Program Background: The
Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program (FL HOP) — created during the 2009
regular legislative session — provides $30 million in financial assistance to
first time homebuyers eligible to receive the federal first time homebuyer tax
credit established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The FL HOP program will be
administered through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program;
offices are located in all 67 counties and 53 Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) entitlement cities. Eligible FL HOP applicants can receive up to $8,000
in purchase assistance, which is expected to be repaid by the applicant upon
receipt of his/her federal tax refund.
View the program one pager for
a summary of this program and how it works.
Program Resources for SHIP Offices