The First-Time Home Buyer Program provides income-eligible residents with deferred payment loans for downpayments and closing costs and helps residents get first mortgage financing with private lending institutions.

As is standard procedure, only eligible lenders, not residents, must submit applications in person to reserve a portion of the funds at the Affordable Housing Department office at 1208 Tech Blvd., Suite 300, in Tampa on Wednesday, June 3, beginning at 8:30 a.m. No email, telephonic, or fax submissions will be accepted. The lenders can then assist residents that they applied for complete the program.

To be eligible to participate in this release of funds, lenders must attend a mandatory Certified Lender Partner workshop, offered at the Hillsborough County Brandon Regional Service Center, 311 Pauls Drive, on Monday, June 1, at 2 p.m. Applications will ONLY be received from lender organizations designated as a Certified Lender Partner, as a result of attending the mandatory workshop.

This release of funds is for available federal HOME dollars; therefore all applicants submitted by lenders must meet income requirements of no greater than 80 percent of area median income (AMI). Additional program details and requirements will be covered at the Lender Workshop and are listed on the Affordable Housing First Time Home Buyer Program website at: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/affordablehousingoffice and then click on "First Time Home Buyers."

For more information, contact Patty Kyle of the Affordable Housing Department at 813-272-6660 or via email at kylep@hillsboroughcounty.org