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Home Ownership Resources in St. Joseph County

We provide a centralized hub for homeownership resources and pre-approved building plans to support your journey in the South Bend area.

Homeownership Programs Available

Down Payment Assistance

CHC - Community Homebuyers Assistance provides a grant in the form of a forgivable second mortgage that allows those who qualify for up to 20% of the home value to be granted and forgiven over time. 

IHCDA - Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority operates a number of programs to help people with a credit score of at least 640 who are struggling to build a down payment for their home. 

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HomeBoost Down Payment Assistance - Offers down payment assistance to first-generation, and minority homebuyers with household incomes below a certain threshold. 

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Neighborhood Initiatives
Near Northwest Neighborhood

Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN) - The Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. (NNN) is a non-profit community development corporation, whose mission is to revitalize the neighborhood. Some of the NNN’s efforts include the acquisition and rehabilitation of beautiful area homes; available for purchase now! 

Other Resources

Intend Indiana: Intend operates a number of initiatives in Indiana. Affordable Home Matters is a program that focuses on buyer assistance as well as development of affordable homes to own. 

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South Bend Heritage Foundation:  Established in 1974, South Bend Heritage Foundation, Inc. (SBH) is a not-for-profit Community Development Corporation (CDC) that is committed to the stabilization and enhancement of neighborhoods.

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CDFI Friendly South Bend - Alternative Equity: Helps address the appraisal gap that buyers can run into in St. Joseph County. 

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Inner City Development LLC

Inner City Development LLC is a small developer building strong communities through local partnerships and equitable homeownership, fostering stability and neighborhood growth.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

FHA home buying programs offer government-backed mortgages with low down payments (as low as 3.5%), lenient credit score requirements (580 minimum), and specialized loans for manufactured homes or renovations. 

STREAMLINED CONSTRUCTION

Pre-Approved Building Plans

To support neighborhood infill and economic opportunities for locals, the City of South Bend is offering a set of pre-approved building types at no cost. This resource assists with small to middle scale housing development in South Bend neighborhoods.

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Some financial institutions in Indiana offer special loans that operate as a construction loan until the home is built, then converts to a traditional mortgage while minimizing closing costs. 

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Home Ownership Improves the
Community for All of Us.

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