besim’s posterous

Sandy city has created a new program that will provide low- and moderate-income home buyers with a $5,000 incentive for buying a new home in the city. The funds, which can be applied to down payment and closing costs, are in the form of an interest-free loan that becomes a grant after the home buyer has lived in the property three years. 

Sandy plans to provide 10 loans to buyers of existing, never-occupied homes, and another 10 to buyers of to-be-constructed homes. The properties must be within Sandy city limits, must be "single-family dwellings," including townhomes and condos, and must not have purchase prices exceeding $305,000. Household incomes must be below certain limits to qualify, but the program is open to both first-time and repeat buyers.

Funding for the program comes from a portion of the tax revenue collected from the commercial buildings around City Hall, said city spokeswoman Trina Duerksen. If successful, the program may receive additional funds after the original 20 loans are awarded, she said. So far, all 20 loans are still available.

To learn more about the program qualifications and to access the application, click here.