Tenants
Homeownership
- Oryaon Butler, HANO Homeownership Participant
The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) Homeownership Program was created to assist public housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) Section 8 residents to become first-time homebuyers. The Program has expanded in recent years to assist with the planning and marketing of homeownership units developed in conjunction with HANO redevelopment programs. The Program includes several components: Homebuyer Preparation; Homebuyer Assistance; and Marketing and Sales.
The primary role of the program is to provide technical and financial assistance directly and through referrals to assist HANO families transition from public housing and HCVP tenants to homeowners. Public housing and HCVP clients earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less are eligible for program participation. Other program and lender requirements determine additional eligibility criteria. The process begins with intake and an initial assessment to determine a clients’ mortgage-readiness. Clients who are determined to be mortgage ready move on to the home buying process while others are advised to develop a plan for mortgage readiness through a lengthier homebuyer preparation process.
If you would like more information concerning the Homeownership Program, please email [email protected].
First Time Homebuyer Preparation
The Homeownership Department assists clients through the homebuyer preparation process which can be as simple as taking a homebuyer training class for clients with sufficient income, savings and credit ratings to a lengthy process focused on increasing income and/or improving credit ratings for loan eligibility. The Department and its referral agencies wok with clients to overcome obstacles to mortgage approval in order to prevent the disappointment of loan denial. Clients are referred to programs sponsored by HANO and others that match personal savings for closing and down payment costs. They are also referred to financial fitness training designed to help clients manage their finances and build good credit history and to homebuyer training classes to fully prepare for home buying and homeownership.
HANO staff works closely with clients during this period to monitor their progress and to ensure that they are maximizing available resources. Staff and referral agencies counsel clients on lender requirements and subsidy eligibility to help prepare clients for eventual loan and subsidy approval. When clients are eligible for mortgage financing they are referred to lenders, realtors and others to begin the home buying process.
Homebuyer Assistance
The Homeownership Department provides technical assistance and makes referrals to HCVP and public housing families throughout the home buying process. This phase includes loan application and approval; home selection, purchase agreements and inspections; and loan closing.
Applicants can select any licensed residential real estate professional and any lender to assist them, but HCVP (Section 8) participants are limited to pre-approved lenders for the HCVP Homeownership Program. HANO staff assists clients during this phase to simplify the processes, ensure program compliance and facilitate closings.
HANO offers First Time Homebuyer Preparation and Homebuyer Assistance services to both public housing and HCVP Section 8 tenant. The public housing program is largely based upon acceptable practices in the affordable housing industry while the HCVP program is defined and regulated by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under 24 CFR 982.625-.643.
Homeownership Brochure
Homeownership Pre-Application
HANO's Homeownership Program was created to assist Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) residents to become first-time homebuyers. If you are interested in becoming a Homeownership Participant, please fill out our Pre-Application form below.
Pre-Application