Are you thinking of buying your first home in Mississippi? Would you like information on a variety of programs – some even offer a free gift of money – to help you purchase that first home? If you answered yes to these two questions, there is great news for you. The state of Mississippi provides programs, including free grant money, for its residents who need help with the down payment and closing costs. This money comes in the form of state grants that range in size up to $14,999.00. This is free money that shouldn’t be passed up! There are also several local programs in various Mississippi cities that offer incentives to first home buyers. It will be well worth your time to educate yourself about the programs that the State of Mississippi provides.
First Time Home Buyer Programs From the Mississippi Home Corporation
The agency in Mississippi that provides assistance is The Mississippi Home Corporation. There is currently only one grant program available: Down Payment Assistance Program. To find out more about this program, please visit the Mississippi Home Corporation website. To navigate directly there, simply visit here.
The Mississippi Development Authority(MDA), Community Services Division will provide Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) HOME funds to provide grants up to $14,999 to qualified low income individuals to purchase homes.
Important Facts
Property must meet local housing quality standards in areas with local building codes or written clearance from either a licensed Home Inspector or US HUD approved appraiser, that the property meets Section 8 Housing Quality Standards.
May be used with FHA, VA, USDA-RHS, Rural Development Direct or Guaranteed loans, Habitat for Humanity loans and approved Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac 30-year conventional loans with Private Mortgage Insurance.
The City of Jackson, City of Hattiesburg and ALL of Harrison County, are not eligible.
May be used with the following MHC programs: Mortgage Revenue Bond with no cash advance (MRB), Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
To contact the Mississippi Development Authority, here is the info:
MHC
735 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS 39202
Phone: (601)718-4636
Switchboard Operator: (601)718-4642
Fax: (601)718-4643
Local Programs Throughout Mississippi
In addition to the grant programs described above, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides home buyer assistance and programs to Mississippi residents. There are multiple grant programs designed specifically for people that meet certain requirements, such as grants for people with disabilities so they can continue to live independently at home. It is worth visiting HUD’s website to see what assistance is currently available. For your convenience, simply go to this page.
Here is the contact information for the HUD office in Mississippi:
Jackson Field Office
Dr. A. H. McCoy Federal Building
100 West Capitol Street
Room 910
Jackson, MS 39269-1096
Phone: (601) 965-4757
Fax: (601) 965-4773
There are also these local programs:
Biloxi & Gulfport Gulf Coast Community Action Agency Inc HOME Grant (HG) (228) 896-1409
Biloxi PRIDE Homeownership Program (PRIDE) (228) 435-6280
“Housing is also a priority of the City of Biloxi Strategic Plan. In order to address the myriad housing needs, the City has developed a multi-pronged approach addressing the rehabilitation of existing units and a downpayment assistance program, which includes intensive homeowner education. The City has also worked within the Biloxi Housing Authority for additional housing improvements in a partnership to assist in the implementation of the Housing Authority’s HOPE VI Plan. Infrastructure improvements in the target areas also enhance the housing situation. The City has begun to address the need for new housing stock in the city. In a continuing effort to make sure that all available resources are tapped, the City of Biloxi joined efforts with the City of Gulfport and Harrison County to form a consortium for HOME funding. Other outreach efforts include work with local homebuilders, financial institutions, and residents.”
MS Home Corporation. MHC administers 2 grant programs on behalf of the Dept. of Education and MS Development Authority. They are the Housing Assistance For Teachers (HAT). Up to a $6,000 Grant if they teach for a period of 3 years in a critical shortage public school district.
The other program is the household with someone that is permanently disabled. It’s called Home of Your Own (HOYO). This a grant of up to $15,000 depending upon household income. MHC offers other programs for first-time buyers. Most are in the form of a second mortgage (3% of the loan amount, 10-year fixed rate) and then one program that offers a 3% Cash Advance and that is with the Mortgage Revenue Bond Program. (601) 718-4626
Newton First-Time Homebuyer Grant Program (GRANT) (601) 683-6181
Habitat for Humanity Home Ownership Programs in Mississippi
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing throughout the world. Habitat works with all people to help make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Partnering with families, volunteers, donors and friends, we help provide decent, affordable housing.
Habitat chooses to partner with families based on three criteria:
1) Need
2) Ability to repay a low-cost, no profit mortgage loan
3) Willingness to provide “sweat equity”
Here are the Habitat for Humanity locations in Mississippi:
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
Bay Waveland Area, HFH
414 Highway 90
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520
Phone: (228) 467-9699
Brookhaven, Mississippi
Lincoln County, HFH of
PO Box 618
Brookhaven, Mississippi 39602-0618
Phone: (601) 823-4061
Canton, Mississippi
Madison Co HFH
PO Box 1143
Canton, Mississippi 39046-1143
Phone: (601) 850-9192
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus-Lowndes HFH
PO Box 126
501 7th St North Ste #8
Columbus, Mississippi 39703-0126
Phone: (662) 329-2501
Gulfport, Mississippi
Mississippi Gulf Coast, Inc., HFH of the
2214 34th St
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
Phone: (228) 678-9100
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg Area HFH
5191 Highway 42
Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39403-1092
Phone: (601) 582-4663
Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando DeSoto HFH
PO Box 845
Hernando, Mississippi 38632-0845
Phone: (662) 449-5002
Jackson, Mississippi
Metro Jackson, Inc., HFH/
PO Box 55634
Jackson, Mississippi 39296-5634
Phone: (601) 353-6060
Leland, Mississippi
Leland HFH
PO Box 88
Leland, Mississippi 38756-0088
Phone: (662) 686-2238
Lucedale, Mississippi
George County HFH
52 Virginia St Ste B
Lucedale, Mississippi 39452
Phone: (601) 766-0730 x1
McComb, Mississippi
Pike County HFH
PO Box 1731
McComb, Mississippi 39649-1731
Phone: (601) 250-6257
Picayune, Mississippi
Pearl River County, HFH of
PO Box 148
Picayune, Mississippi 39466-0148
Phone: (601) 799-4636
Pontotoc, Mississippi
Pontotoc County HFH
PO Box 486
Pontotoc, Mississippi 38863
Phone: (662) 488-9090
Starkville, Mississippi
Starkville HFH
PO Box 784
Starkville, Mississippi 39760-0784
Phone: (662) 324-7008
Tutwiler, Mississippi
West Tallahatchie HFH
PO Box 448
Tutwiler, Mississippi 38963-0448
Phone: (662) 345-6200
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Warren County HFH
PO Box 541
Vicksburg, Mississippi 39181-0541
Phone: (601) 634-6633
