Home Repair Loans and Grants

Home Repair Loans and Grants is sponsored by City of Seattle. Offers affordable loans and grants to income-qualified homeowners in Seattle for critical health, safety, and structural repairs.

Home Repair Loans and Grants - Housing | seattle. gov Thank you for your interest in the Home Loan Repair & Grant Program. We have very limited funds available right now.

Because of this, we are putting new applications on a waiting list. We will look at applications in the order we receive them. If you want to join the waiting list, please fill out the form below.

The Home Repair Loan Program provides affordable loans to income-qualified homeowners to address critical health, safety, and structural issues. The program is designed for owner-occupied, single family homes with moderate-income households. The no interest loans are funded by local and federal programs that prioritize repairs that address health and safety concerns.

Homeowners are given as much flexibility as possible, and our trusted staff will offer expert guidance throughout the process to ensure the work is done well, and on budget. Loans through the Home Repair Loan Program start at $3,000. All loans will have 0% interest.

Some borrowers may also qualify for a deferred loan that has no monthly payments. If you do not qualify for a loan, a Home Repair Grant may be available. Call us at (206) 684-0244 to learn more.

If your home needs a side sewer repair or are unsure if your side sewer is broken, please see the Side Sewer Assistance Program . Qualified individuals can get a 0% interest loan to repair side sewers.

See if you might qualify based on your household size and income The number of adults and children who live with you, including yourself The total amount of pre-tax money everyone in your household earns Check Program Eligibility The entered details are eligible for this program Other eligibility requirements may apply.

The entered details aren't eligible for this program View all Assistance and Discounts programs The eligibility calculator above does not guarantee a home repair loan or program. You must still apply to the program to receive a loan or a grant.

To qualify for a home repair loan or grant you must: Own and occupy property within City of Seattle limits Have low-income — less than 80% of the Area Medium Income (AMI) Current Income Guidelines The Office of Housing's home repair program has different income eligibility thresholds depending on whether the assistance is a grant or a loan.

The home repair limits are the very low-income limits (for grants) and the low-income limits (for loans), both as adjusted and published by HUD. View Income Limits for Home Repair Program . The Home Repair Loan Program is designed to address immediate health, safety, and structural deficiencies.

Other improvements will be considered on a case by case basis. The following is a partial list of priority issues. Final determination of improvements will be made by OH staff.

The Home Repair Loan Program is designed to address immediate health, safety and structural deficiencies. Other improvements will be considered on a case by case basis. The following is a partial list of priority issues.

Final determination of improvements will be made by OH staff.

Accessibility needs and modifications Appliances, if existing ones are nonfunctional, inefficient or in very poor condition (no washers or dryers) Door and window repair or replacement (if in poor condition) Driveway or walkway repair Floor repair and covering Foundation repair or replacement Furnace/boiler repair or replacement Gutter repair or replacement Hazardous materials abatement Hot water heater repair or replacement Hot water tanks might be replaced if determined they are failing, must be leaking, or rusted.

We do not replace because of their age Porch repair or replacement Retaining wall repair (for code violations, or if hazardous) Roof repair or replacement Siding (if in poor condition) Water line repair or replacement How the Home Repair Loan Program Works This guide helps you understand how to apply for a home repair loan through the City of Seattle’s Home Repair Loan Program.

Follow these easy steps to make sure your application process goes smoothly. Caution! Do not hire a contractor before reading through the steps and getting approval from the Office of Housing.

We do not provide reimbursements for contractors who are hired outside of our official process. The Office of Housing does a hard credit pull as part of the Home Repair Loan application. Your credit score may be impacted by this credit inquiry.

1. Loan Application and Home Inspection: Send in Your Application: After you apply, a finance specialist from the Office of Housing will review your application. Find Contractors: After approval, you may begin looking for price estimates.

The Office of Housing has a list of contractors that we have worked with before. We will supply you with our list when the Property Rehab Specialist visits your home. Credit and Title Reports: The finance specialist will check your credit and title.

They are checking to make sure you have reasonable financial history, credit, and no delinquent property taxes. Missing Documents: If any documents are missing from your application, the finance specialist will tell you. Please make sure you send all the documents they ask you for.

Loan Pre-Approval: After your loan is pre-approved, you will get a letter detailing the terms of your loan. Please remember loan terms are subject to change. You will receive a closing loan disclosure prior to signing your final loan documents.

Property Rehabilitation Specialist: After pre-approval, a Property Rehabilitation Specialist from the Office of Housing will contact you. They will help check what repairs are within our guidelines that we can assist you with. 2.

Choosing a Contractor: Do Not Sign Contracts until directed by the Property Rehab Specialist: Wait for the Property Rehabilitation Specialist to tell you that you can sign a contract Do not pay any deposits to contractors. Pick a Contractor: You have 30 days to send bids to the Property Rehab Specialist. A bid is a written price or offer from a contractor that tells you how much they will charge you to do the repair work on your home.

If we do not hear from you after 45 days your application will be closed and you will have to reapply. Approved Form and Agreement: Use forms provided by the Property Rehab Specialist for contracts. Contractors must agree to follow the City’s laws and policies.

Loan Documents: After you pick a contractor and the loan amount is set, the finance specialist will send loan documents for you to sign. Wait for Approval: Do not start any work or sign contracts until the Property Rehabilitation Specialist says it’s okay. Legal Help: If you need legal help, you can talk to your own attorney.

Signing the Loan: After signing the loan documents, they will be recorded with King County. After recording, your loan will be considered closed and ready to use. You will receive a document called a “Notice to Proceed” to sign and start the repair work.

Starting Work: The contractor can start the work three days after the loan documents are recorded with the county. Completion Time: All work must be finished within six months of the loan closing. Talk to your Property Rehabilitation Specialist if you have issues.

Contractor Work Quality: The Office of Housing is not responsible for the quality of work the contractor provides. Download the Home Repair Loan application and mail the completed form to: Seattle Office of Housing Attn: Weatherization Applications All applications must include the "How It Works" document, signed . Please download it by clicking this link .

All applications must include IRS Forms 4506 and 4506-T. Please download and include these. If you cannot print the application, call us at (206) 684-0244 or email us at HealthyHome@seattle.

gov to ask for that a physical copy be mailed to you. In your message, please include your property address, the repairs you are requesting, and your contact information. What to expect after applying: Your application will be reviewed and processed by Office of Housing staff.

Once your application is approved, a Property Rehabilitation Specialist from the Office of Housing will schedule an assessment of your repair and help you with bid estimates. Once a contractor is chosen, Office of Housing staff will prepare your loan documents. Once the loan documents have been recorded, the contractor can start the repairs.

No work can begin until after the loan has been completed and all documents are signed. Our Loan program does not provide the following: Reimbursement towards any repairs completed prior to loan documents being recorded. Special assessment repairs for homeowner associations or condo associations.

Please note that due to processing and loan recording time frames, our program does not accommodate repairs that are considered “urgent”. Interested contractors are invited to review the Contactors page to learn more about how to work with us and what typical work could include. For general questions regarding the Home Repair Program, please call us at (206) 684-0244 or email us at HealthyHome@seattle.

gov . View all Assistance and Discount Programs Get money back for energy-efficient heat pumps and water heaters. 8,000 average annual savings Oil to Electric Heating (Clean Heat Program) Convert your oil furnace to electric heating for free if you have an income that qualifies.

Up to $24,000 average annual savings Free Toilets for Low-Income Homeowners Free toilets and installation are available for income-eligible homeowners with a toilet built before 2004. 300 average annual savings Get a 0% interest loan to fix broken side sewers for income-qualified Seattle homeowners.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Free Free smoke/CO or strobe alarms for seniors 65+, low-income households, and people with disabilities. 70. 00 average annual savings Income-qualified renters and homeowners can get free insulation, furnace repairs, and more.

Up to $18,000 average annual savings Kelli Larsen, Acting Director 700 5th Ave, Suite 5700, Seattle, WA, 98104 PO Box 94725, Seattle, WA , 98124-4725 Email: Housing@seattle. gov City Holidays and Closures Find Affordable Rental Housing Multifamily Tax Exemption We partner to create affordable housing by equitably investing to prevent displacement and increase opportunities for people to live in Seattle.