If you are interested in real estate, it would be in your best interest to know about and go through the list of government grants for investment properties.
And it’s clear to understand why. These grants from the government help them outsource and distribute the business of allotting homes to the people. Billions of dollars in funds are made available to the public in the form of these grants. And the best part is that as opposed to loans, grants do not have to be paid back! They might be the solution to your financing problems especially if you are buying a property to rent out as a form of long-term investment. Here is a comprehensive list of grants available from the government for investment properties.
1. Tribal HUD VASH Expansion Grant
The Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) provides grants to Indian Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) for Native American Housing Assistance. These funds aim towards rental assistance for Native American Veterans living on or near an Indian reservation who are at risk of homelessness.
2. RESTORE Act Direct Component – Construction and Real Property Activities
As a part of its RESTORE ACT, The US Department of Treasury offers successful applicants access to funds from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. This was formed mostly from funding received after July 6, 2012, from fines and penalties paid to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This grant has many purposes, such as promoting tourism in the Gulf Coast region, and job creation and workforce development. Applicants may be able to receive real estate development-related funding if they meet the grant’s criteria.
3. Emergency Capital Repair Grant
The Emergency Capital Repair Grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to family housing property owners to enable them to carry out emergency repairs. This is a crucial one in the government grants for investment properties as these funds are used to tackle anything that can impact the safety and health of the tenants. Examples of repairs allowed include any structural components in critical condition and replacement of mechanical equipment. Individual investors can apply to the HUD for these funds up to a maximum allowed amount for this grant – $500,000. Your housing project should serve a useful purpose for the community or the neighborhood where it is located as a requirement for compliance.
4. HOME Investment Partnerships Program
HOME is a federal block grant given to both, state and local, governments to help in the creation of affordable housing for low-income households. Local governments then distribute these funds to qualified organizations. Real estate investors can partner with these organizations to request grants under this program. The only requirement is that the grant should specifically be used to build, rehabilitate and/or buy housing for low-income groups. Annually about $2 billion is allocated under this grant program.
5. Good Neighbor Next Door Program
The Good Neighbor Next Door Program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is not strictly limited to first-time buyers and can help you save big on a home. HUD lists eligible properties by state.
The idea behind this program is to encourage renewal in specific areas. To be eligible, you must purchase property in an area meant for revitalization and is only open to certain professions, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, teachers and emergency medical technicians. If you commit to living in this property for at least three years, you can receive up to 50% off the list price of the home.
6. First-time Homebuyer Grants
First-time homebuyer grants are income-dependent and usually location-specific. Like most government grants for investment properties, many of these programs are available at the state and local level. It’s important to pay attention to these programs because although these grants are usually forgivable over a period of time, some of them actually require you to repay them if you only live in the home only for a short amount of time.
7. USDA Rural Programs Rentals
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a number of programs to help people in rural areas. Not all of these areas remote areas — some are even well populated. If you are elderly or disabled and your income is considered low and you can’t find rent that is no more than 1/3rd of your earning, then you might qualify for their Rental Assistance Program.
8. Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grants
This program is meant to help neighborhoods that have a lot of abandoned or foreclosed homes. The resulting neglect drags down the appearance and hence the value of the entire neighborhood. Like most government grants for investment properties, NSP Grants can help people who could not afford to buy a house otherwise. When new owners move in and fix the property up, it benefits the entire community.
NSP Grants are provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. They do not go directly to individuals. But like most other federal grants, they go to state and local agencies and to some non-profits which then distribute the funds accordingly.
9. Transitional Housing
The Justice Department provides grants for short-term housing for the homeless, abused, or addicted among others. However, as is the case, they come through government entities and non-profits who in turn provide them to individuals. Particularly if you are a woman with or without children you may be able to find emergency shelter in your area along with support to help put your life back together.
10. Affordable Housing Grant
The Community Development Block Grant Program provides funding for low-income housing. HUD administers this program to local governments who distribute the funds to organizations that in turn provide affordable housing to low-income households. Housing for seniors, people with disabilities, and families are included in typical affordable housing projects, the rents should be kept affordable by the housing developer for low-income households as a condition of the grant.
11. Main Street Grants
The HUD sponsors the Main Street grants program. Under this program, communities with historical downtown districts, aka Main Street, can apply for funds to remodel commercial offices and buildings into affordable rentals. A condition of receiving this grant program is that the owners must retain the historical and traditional character of the structures.
12. Capital Fund Education and Training Community Facility Grant
The CFCF program funding is $5 million and public housing authorities can apply for it. Like most government grants for investment properties, capital funding is for these authorities to construct, purchase or rehabilitate facilities for early childhood education, adult education, or job training programs based on need.
13. Section 542- Risk-Sharing
This section 542 grant is available for eligible mortgagors, including investors, builders, developers, and private nonprofit corporations and public entities. This helps in the credit enhancement of multifamily housing projects whose loans are unwritten and disposed of by housing authorities.
14. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
These government grants for investment properties are provided by the HUD and are basically formula grants for local governments to carry out economic and community development activities.
15. EDA Grants
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the US also provides grants to encourage economic growth. Of course, the condition is that you have to ensure that your grant helps improve the economy.
16. Fedex Grant Program
Applicants to this Fedex grant program can receive a portion of the $200,000 awarded in grants if they share their visions.
17. Grants to Neighborhood Arts
These grants provide support for artistic development, re-imagine places and engage neighborhood art-making. This funding program began in early 2015 to help neighborhood associations and neighborhood planning units (NPU) enrich the quality of life in the City of Atlanta.
18. The Real Estate Apprentice Foundation
A California Non-Profit Corporation is the only organization to offer a national real estate grant program for real estate agents by awarding bi-annual grants which total up to $250,000 every year.
19. Real Property Investment Grant
This is a grant of up to $100,000 per building or facility for qualifying real property investments that are less than $5,000,000.
If you are looking for government grants for investment properties, this list should help you make up your mind!
Learn More…
Learn about mistakes to avoid when buying a foreclosed property >
To read up more on government grants, read this article.
To find more Federal grants, visit this page.
