TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pinellas slow to speed up homebuyer assistance

ADVERTISEMENT

By STACIE SCHAIBLE

sschaible@wfla.com

Published: November 13, 2009

State Sen. Mike Fasano is upset that Pinellas County has yet to implement a program to help first-time homebuyers with down payments.

Fasano, the New Port Richey Republican, is credited with creating the program that set aside $30 million for local governments to offer bridge loans for homebuyers who didn't want to wait for their federal up-to-$8,000 tax credit.

"Pinellas County needs to get their act together and needs to implement this program," Fasano said. "Unfortunately, sadly, Pinellas is the only one in the state of Florida that hasn't even begun to do it."

Lawmakers approved the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program in May to maximize the $8,000 federal tax credit. Under the program, Florida homebuyers could use the state money up front for their down payment or to pay closing costs. Consumers would pay back the money once they got their tax return.

Anthony Jones, executive director of the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, cites required approvals from the state for the delay. He blames officials with the Florida Housing Finance Corp. in Tallahassee, which oversees the down payment program.

Lawmakers required local governments to follow the same procedures they use for another low-income housing effort, the State Housing Initiatives Partnership. The SHIP program is used for home ownership and rental housing programs for cities and counties.

Jones said he's been going back and forth with state officials for months to get their approval for the overall SHIP program.

Jones says the county attorney wrote a letter to the Florida Housing Finance Corp. two and a half weeks ago and is still awaiting a response.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT