To qualify for down payment and closing cost assistance through the First Time Homebuyer Program, the following requirements must be met:

1. The applicant must never have owned a home before.

2. The home to be purchased will be the primary residence.

3. The total, annual household income must not exceed HUD’s Section 8 Income Limits .

4. The applicant must have completed a housing counseling course. Housing counseling is offered through the following organizations:

CHIP
(304) 233-0953

CHANGE, Inc.
(304) 797-7733

Family Service Credit Counseling
(304) 232-6733

Community Action Commission of Belmont County
(740) 695-0293

5. The applicant must be prequalified for mortgage financing.

6. The applicant must have a vacant single family home under contract, located within the jurisdiction that they are applying. (Prior to a loan closing, the house must pass inspection by the HOME program inspector.)

There is an initial application fee of $50.00, which is refundable. The borrower is also required to put at least $500 out of pocket toward the down payment or closing costs.

For more information on the First Time Homebuyer Program, please visit the Northern Panhandle HOME Consortium website http://www.nphomeassist.org , or contact one of the following HOME Administrators, depending upon the location in which you would like to purchase a house:

City of Wheeling
Melissa Thompson
(304) 234-3701
mthompson@wheelingwv.gov

Ohio County
Melissa Thompson
(304) 234-3701
mthompson@wheelingwv.gov


City of Weirton
Nicole Jagela
(304) 797-8516
cdbghousing@cityofweirton.com

Hancock County
Joyce DeStefano
(304) 797-7733
joycedestefano@changeinc.org

Brooke County
Joyce DeStefano
(304) 797-7733
joycedestefano@changeinc.org

Marshall County
Vickey Battista
(304) 233-0830
vickey.benwood@comcast.net