I need to first start by saying I am terribly disappointed that nurses do not make the list of service professionals that get included in this program, but I will have to let that pass in order to share a fantastic opportunity with those of you who have loved-ones who fit the bill.
If you are a police officer, firefighter, EMT, or teacher then U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a fantastic opportunity to help you own your very own home. The Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) program offers a fantastic incentives to get members of these professions in certain neighborhoods to promote a greater sense of community pride and security and the service workers reap great benefits as well.
What kind of benefits?
Is 50% percent of your mortgage being paid off a big enough benefit for you? HALF of your mortgage, they will pay if you sign a contract stating it is your primary residence and you will live there for a designated period of time. Now even if you didn’t do well in math or statistics, I’m pretty sure HALF-OFF your HOME is easy enough to understand.
Per the FAQ:
Question: What Is the Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) Sales Program?
Answer: HUD wants to strengthen America’s communities. The Good Neighbor Next Door Program offers HUD owned single family (one-unit) homes to eligible participants at a 50% discount.
The occupancy requirements are tiny, in my humble opinion. And at the end of the period you are free to sell your home and keep whatever profit you may generate.
Question: What is the Occupancy Period?
You must live in the home as your sole residence for a full 36 months. The purpose of the program is to strengthen communities by encouraging employed, professional law enforcement officers, teachers and firefighters/emergency medical technicians to live in the community.
This program wants to create strong communities that foster growth in areas that may be seeing an increase in foreclosures or other issues. This does not mean the government is going to force you an your family to move the a shanty town, but it may limit your home search. However, if you are a member of these professions, then you are not being compensated enough for all that you do for the community, so you really need to take advantage of tremendous gift that HUD and federal government are offering you.
From the official portal.hud.gov website:
Good Neighbor Eligible Participants
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) wants to make American communities stronger and to build a safer nation. The Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND) program helps make this goal a reality by encouraging law enforcement officers, pre-K through 12th grade teachers and firefighters/emergency medical technicians to become homeowners in revitalization areas.
Who Can Participate?
Law Enforcement
You may participate in the Good Neighbor Next Door program as a law enforcement officer if you are employed full-time by a law enforcement agency of the federal government, a state, a unit of general local government, or an Indian tribal government; and, in carrying out such full-time employment, you are sworn to uphold, and make arrests for violations of, federal, state, tribal, county, township, or municipal laws.
Teachers
You may participate in the Good Neighbor Next Door program as a Teacher if you are employed as a full-time teacher by a state-accredited public school or private school that provides direct services to students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. In addition, the public or private school where you are employed as a teacher must serve students from the area where the home you are purchasing is located in the normal course of business.
Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians
You may participate in the Good Neighbor Next Door program as a Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician if you are employed full-time as a firefighter or emergency medical technician by a fire department or emergency medical services responder unit of the federal government, a state, unit of general local government, or an Indian tribal government serving the area where the home is located.
At a time when the middle class seem to be repeatedly punished for working hard and attempting to earn an honest living, it is always inspiring and uplifting to see wonderful opportunities like this being offered. I encourage each and everyone of you that is eligible and interested to pursue this and fulfill the dream of home-ownership, if you possess it.
I would love to hear from you if you have participated in this program, or if you are inspired to by this post. Please comment below and keep me informed. I want to live vicariously through you!
More information below. Good luck:
- HUD Good Neighbor Initiatives
- HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program
- HUD about Dollar Homes
- HUD Q & A Good Neighbor Next Door Program
- HUD Good Neighbor Eligible Participants
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Why do nurses get the shaft? I work in the ED and need affordable housing too!
I agree Megan. Hopefully soon they will update the list to include us nurses.
Nurses make anywhere from 30 to 50 dollars an hour.Hence they don’t make the list.
That is not true.
Nurses where I come from are lucky to make $22-24 an hour.
according to the average national salary for registered nurses is between $19.78 – $36.23. And for LPNS its $13.34 – $23.19.
I knew a nurse who had worked at the beside for 20 years and topped out at $30/hr.
My first job in nursing, I made $18/hr.
There are firefighters who are paramedics and they make $18-26 an our.
So your argument about pay scale is invalid. I’m sure it has something to do with being a first responder, but I’m not sure why ER nurses don’t fall into that category at least.
Hi, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this post. It was helpful. Keep on posting!
thank you very much!
I hope that many service professionals will be able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to become a home owner.