Howard County Accepting Moderate Income Housing Applications

From Howard County: The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is now accepting applications for its Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program during its second open enrollment period for 2017. Applications for the MIHU homeownership program are being accepted through Friday, April 28. A new online application is also now available here.

DHCD will hold two free MIHU workshops to explain the program’s eligibility requirements and application process for prospective homebuyers and renters. The MIHU RENTERS Information Workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 19 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Gateway Building, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. The MIHU HOMEBUYERS Information Workshop will take place on Thursday, April 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. Guidewell Financial Solutions will be on hand at each workshop to present information regarding the importance of credit scores in the home buying and rental processes. Both workshops are free and open to the public; however, registration is required. To register for a workshop or for more information, contact DHCD’s Housing Opportunities Programs Division at 410-313-6343.

To purchase an MIHU home, individuals must apply to DHCD during an open enrollment period to be placed in the database. To qualify, an applicant’s household income may not exceed 80% of Howard County’s median income, which as of January 1, 2017, is $110,893 for a four-person household. Household income limits are based on family size. Applicants must meet minimum credit score requirements and their household income must be sufficient to qualify for a home mortgage based on industry standards. Sale prices for MIHUs can range from $250,000 for a condominium to $322,000 for a townhouse. Actual sale prices vary depending on the size and amenities of the unit.

Homeownership opportunities are currently offered at below-market sales prices in several communities, including: Dorset Gardens at Blue Stream, Elkridge Crossing and Morris Place in

Elkridge; Oxford Square in Hanover and Foxwood Manor in Laurel. With competitive low interest rates, estimated mortgage payments for homes priced at $250,000 would start at approximately $1,600, and require an annual household income of approximately $55,000 to qualify. Most of the townhomes feature three finished levels with 1,500 to 2,100 square feet of living space, three or four-bedrooms, as many as three full and two half baths, one and two-car garages, and much more.

To rent an MIHU unit, a qualified applicant’s household income may not exceed 60% of the Howard County median income. MIHUs are rented on a first-come, first-served basis, with rents ranging from $1,068 to $1,620. MIHUs are interspersed throughout each community and residents enjoy all the amenities of community life. Alta at Regency Crest, Ashbury Courts, Belmont Station, Brompton House, Miller’s Grant, Mission Place, Orchard Meadows, Orchard Park, Penniman Park, Townes at Pine Orchard and Woodfield Oxford Square currently offer MIHU apartments. Prospective renters may apply directly to a participating rental community at any time during the year. Community addresses and phone numbers can be found online here.

Open enrollment periods for the MIHU purchase program are held quarterly. Those interested in enrolling should call DHCD’s Housing Opportunities Programs Division at 410-313-6343, or visit the MIHU website here.

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