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Section 8 Home Ownership Program

Yuma, Arizona

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Income limit

50% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Grant

Not repaid

What is Section 8 Home Ownership Program?

Section 8 Home Ownership Program is a grant for homebuyers in Yuma, Arizona.

  • HUD Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Option administered locally by the Housing Authority of the City of Yuma (HACY). Rather than a closing-table grant, the program converts a family's monthly Section 8 rental subsidy into a monthly homeownership assistance payment that helps cover the family's mortgage and housing costs. Operated in conjunction with HACY's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program; FSS escrow earned during the rental period is typically used as the down payment, often leveraged by partner programs (WISH/IDEA) at $4-to-$1 match up to $22,000. HACY received the HUD Phoenix Field Office's MVP Award in 2008 and 2013 for this program.
  • Existing HACY Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) holders may use their monthly voucher subsidy toward homeownership expenses (mortgage principal, interest, taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA, and maintenance allowance) instead of rent. Subsidy continues monthly for up to 10 years (15 years if first mortgage term is 20+ years). Elderly or disabled families have no maximum term. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) escrow plus partner programs (WISH/IDEA) can provide matched down-payment funds — up to $4 in match for every $1 of FSS escrow, capped at $22,000.
  • Funding comes from HUD Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) funding.

Do you have to pay it back?

Section 8 Home Ownership Program is structured as a grant, so it is not repaid.

  • Repayment is triggered by Not applicable — this is a monthly subsidy, not a repayable loan. Subsidy ends if family violates program rules, sells the home, ceases owner-occupancy, exceeds income limits, or reaches the maximum term (10 or 15 years and no limit for elderly/disabled).
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Section 8 Home Ownership Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Displaced homemakers, single parents, cooperative members, and disabled families are exempt from the three-year first-time-buyer rule.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Set by first-mortgage lender; HACY has no separate program credit-score minimum.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through WACOG (Western Arizona Council of Governments); HACY FSS Homeownership Coordinator; HUD-approved counseling agencies
  • Residency: Family must be a current HACY Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher participant; home must be located in HACY's jurisdiction (City of Yuma) or in an area where the family ports the voucher with receiving-PHA agreement.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with qualifying immigration status (HUD requirement).
  • Must be a current HACY Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) participant in good standing. Must have completed initial Section 8 lease term (one year continuous tenancy). Must be a first-time homebuyer (no ownership in the past three years), with exceptions for displaced homemakers, single parents, cooperative members, and disabled families. Head of household, spouse, or other adult owner must meet minimum annual income equal to local minimum wage x 30 hours/week x 52 weeks (welfare assistance not counted toward minimum income, except for disabled/elderly heads). Disabled-family minimum income is the monthly Federal SSI benefit x 12. Must be continuously employed at least 30 hours/week for at least one year prior to homeownership commencement (employment requirement waived for elderly/disabled families). Mandatory pre-purchase homeownership counseling. Home must pass an independent professional inspection and HUD HQS inspection. Family must obtain a fixed-rate or HUD-approved ARM first mortgage. Maximum homeownership assistance term: 10 years (15 years if first mortgage term is 20+ years); no time limit for elderly or disabled families. Program limited to 5% of HACY's authorized Section 8 voucher units, excluding elderly/disabled families.

The program excludes

  • Households above 50% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

Section 8 Home Ownership Program limits household income to 50% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • Family must already be an admitted Housing Choice Voucher participant (initial admission requires income at or below 50% AMI; up to 80% AMI for current participants). Minimum income: local Yuma minimum wage x 30 hours x 52 weeks (welfare income excluded except for elderly/disabled).
  • The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Section 8 Home Ownership Program caps the purchase price as follows: No program purchase-price cap, but the home must be supported by the voucher subsidy and pass HQS plus an independent inspection. Family must demonstrate ability to afford ongoing housing costs.

  • Eligible property types include Single-family detached, condo, townhome, cooperative, and manufactured home on owned land — all subject to HQS and independent inspection.
  • New construction is eligible.
  • Manufactured homes are eligible.

Where does it apply?

Section 8 Home Ownership Program serves buyers purchasing in Yuma, Arizona.

How do you apply?

Applications for Section 8 Home Ownership Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through WACOG (Western Arizona Council of Governments); HACY FSS Homeownership Coordinator; HUD-approved counseling agencies.

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Application through HACY FSS / Homeownership Coordinator; limited to current voucher holders meeting eligibility criteria., and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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