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Advocacy, Inc.
7800 Shoal Creek Blvd. #171-E
Austin, TX 78757-1024
512-454-4816 (V/TDD)
512-323-0902 (Fax)
1-800-252-9108 (V/TDD)
infoai@advocacyinc.org

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Texas Home of Your Own (HOYO) Coalition

If You're An Individual With a Disability,and You Want to Own a Home, This is Your Best Chance Ever!

It's true. This is the best opportunity you have ever had to own a home. Never before have so many funds been available and never before has it been so easy to find out of homeownership is for you.

Two Types of Financial Assistance Give You An Opportunity To Become a Homeowner

We're the Texas Home of Your Own (HOYO) Coalition and our goal is to expand homeownership opportunities for Texans with disabilities. We do this through innovative programs that combine homeownership education, support services counseling, and affordable financing that together can overcome many of the barries to owning a home. Thanks to a grant by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and a national $50 million loan product sponsored by Fannie Mae-we're able to offer two innovative programs.

First Program

The first is called START-UP and it offers two types of assistance.

1. Up to $15,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance for qualified buyers. To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
   • complete the HOYO orientation and homebuyer education classes
   • meet income guidelines (which vary by city and county)
   • have a documentable disability
   • qualify for mortgage financing and have a minimum down payment from your own funds (requirements vary by lender)
2. Up to $20,000 for home accessibility modifications and barrier removal related to your disability for qualified homeowners. To be eligible an applicant must:
   • meet income requirements (again, they vary by city and county)
   • have a documentable disability
   • need accessibility modifications in your home related to your disability

Priority for this money will be given to new homeowners who have used the HOYO down payment assistance program.

START-UP funds are available in limited areas of Texas. Other requirements may apply.

Second Program

Our second program is HomeChoice, an innovative home mortgage loan product sponsored by Fannie Mae that is available through HOYO and Fannie Mae approved lenders. To be eligible an applicant must:

• have a documentable disability or have a dependent with a disability living with them
• meet household income requirements (which again, vary by location)
• purchase a new or existing single-family home or condominium in selected areas
• meet down payment, credit history and other requirements of the program (which are much more flexible than in the past)
• qualify for financing through a participating lender
• complete the HOYO orientation and homebuyer education classes

To see if you're eligible for either or both of the programs, here's what you need to do.

1. Call 809-988-HOYO to receive an application packet
2. Review the materials to ensure you meet the initial eligibility requirements
3. If you think you're eligible, fill out the application and return it to our office
4. If you are eligible, we'll let you know the good news and direct you to the next step. If you are not eligible, we'll tell you why and make suggestions on how you could be eligible in the future.
5. Congratulations! You've made it this far. Now you'll need to meet with a housing counselor to determine your financial and credit readiness. You'll also meet with a support services counselor to identify any services or support you may need. From this point, you'll learn what it takes to qualify for a mortgage, how to prepare for your loan application, shop for the right house, manage your finances, and maintain your home once you're a homeowner.
6. When you've found the right house and you're ready to buy-we'll give you a list of local lenders and mortgage companies that have already agreed to participate in our program. We'll even help you through the loan process.
7. All the hard work has paid off and your mortgage has been approved. Welcome to the world of homeownership. It's time to meet your neighbors!

And that's what HOYO can do for you. But nothing happens without calling. So if you're interested in owning a home-pick up the phone and call 800-988-4696. Homeownership for people with disabilities is happening every day across the country. Call us today and find out how you can have a home of your own.

Call 1-800-988-HOYO (Voice or TDD)

The Texas Home of Your Own Coalition was initiated by United Cerebral Palsy of Texas during the summer of 1995 in response to the critical shortage of affordable, accessible housing in Texas. The coalition currently has 21 participating members and we welcome communities throughout the state to join. Your suggestions and experiences with innovative homeownership programs will strengthen our efforts to identify barriers and promote changes within the system.

Major funding for administrative support of HOYO is provided by the Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities.

The Texas Home of Your Own Coalition is operated in compliance with all Fair Housing Equal Opportunity regulations.

Texas Home of Your Own Coalition
900 Congress, Suite 220
Austin, Texas 78701
Voice or TDD: 800-988-4696
Fax: 512-472-8026