• Participant Responsibilities
• Eligibility
• Contact for Information

MDHA's Section 8 Homeownership Program uses the housing assistance payment (HAP) towards the payment of a mortgage. However, at this time, additional County funds are no longer available for this program.

The maximum purchase price of the property for a home is based on several factors, including a combination of voucher subsidy and the mortgages. Based on these factors, MDHA will advise participants of the maximum purchase price before a search for a home begins. In addition, MDHA will provide the participant with a list of participating mortgage lenders to assist with first mortgage financing.

Participant Responsibilities

In order to receive assistance, families must

1. Attend and complete homeownership counseling. MDHA will provide a list of approved counseling agencies (125 KB).
   
2. Be responsible for finding an eligible home to purchase. Note: MDHA reserves the right to approve both the property and the seller.
   
3. Provide 1% of the required 3% down payment from your own funds.
   
4. Select a lender of their choice. MDHA reserves the right to approve all financing.
   
5. Obtain a first mortgage from the mortgage lender of your choice at the current interest rate. The term of the mortgage should be a minimum of either 20 or 30 years in order for the family to be eligible to receive voucher assistance for 15 years. If a 15-year mortgage is selected, then voucher assistance will end after 10 years. Note that there is no maximum term of homeownership assistance for disabled families, therefore the term of the mortgage may be longer.
   
6. Provide mortgage information and documentation on a timely basis.
   
7. Select, hire and pay with own funds for an independent professional inspection for the purpose of assessing the adequacy and life-span of major systems, appliances and other structural components. Property must also pass MDHA's housing quality standards (HQS) inspection.

TOP

Eligibility

In order to qualify, the families must

• Currently hold a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher.
  
• Have a minimum earned income of $10,300 per year and have a least one adult family member who is currently employed full time year round for a minimum of one year. (For disabled families, the minimum income is the monthly Supplemental Security Income or SSI benefit multiplied by 12 months).
  Families in which the head of household or the spouse are elderly or disabled do not have to be employed, but must still meet with the minimum income requirements. (Disabled families are those whose head of household or spouse is disabled).
  
• Currently be in good standing with MDHA and in compliance with the current lease, including no outstanding debt to MDHA for previous housing quality standards (HQS) damages or unpaid rent, no history of late payments, and/or no participant responsible HQS violations existing in the unit which have not been corrected.
  
• Be a first-time homebuyer and not have any member of the household owning a home for a minimum of three years prior to receiving the homeownership assistance. (This does not apply to a displaced homemaker or single parent who owned a home with a former spouse).
  
• Not have any financial interest in any other home while receiving Section 8 Homeownership assistance.
  
• Not have any debts which may disqualify the participant for home financing.

. TOP

Contact for Information

For additional information regarding the Section 8 Homeownership Program, contact:

Miami-Dade Housing Agency
Private Rental Housing Division
2153 Coral Way
Miami, Florida 33145
305-250-5108

For HOPE VI clients:
Miami-Dade Housing Agency
1401 NW 7 Street
Miami, Florida 33125
305-644-5145