State housing agency makes $312,000 investment in homeownership in McKinney

Recognizing that homeownership is the key to creating stable families and communities, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and State Senator Florence Shapiro have announced a major funding award to the city of McKinney to assist eligible residents with the purchase of their first home and provide much-needed economic benefits to the local construction industry. 

TDHCA awarded $312,000 in homebuyer assistance funds to the city which will provide 40 households with down payment and closing cost assistance.

“These homebuyer funds will have an immediate and positive impact on McKinney, and I am confident that the city will make excellent use of this award,” said Senator Shapiro. “Promoting homeownership strengthens both the family and community, and I applaud TDHCA for making these funds available.”

“McKinney remains a vibrant, growing community, but unfortunately the housing market has outpaced the income of some residents,” said Michael Gerber, TDHCA Executive Director. “These funds will help families overcome the biggest obstacle many homebuyers face: meeting the down payment requirements.

“Promoting homeownership is a critical mission of the Department,” he continued. “Besides helping to strengthen families and neighborhoods, these funds will help generate local construction jobs and increase area employment opportunities. We’re proud to help the city of McKinney and contribute to an improved quality of life for all residents.”

TDHCA awards homebuyer assistance funds to eligible applicants through the Department’s HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, which helps provide down payment and closing cost assistance to qualifying first time homebuyers. Assistance is limited to 6 percent of the home purchase price or $10,000, whichever is greater. Eligible applicants include qualifying units of local government, public housing authorities, Community Housing Development Organizations and other nonprofit groups, and qualifying for-profit organizations.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the funding source for the HOME Program. The program serves households earning no more than 80 percent of the area median family income. For McKinney and Collin County, this equals an annual income of $52,300 for a family for four.