Does anyone know if there are any types of first time home buyer loans out there to repair houses?

The following is a summary of information about an assistance program or grant available to individuals or families through an agency of the U.S. Government. ("CFDA No." is the program's listing number in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.)

CFDA No. 10.417 VERY LOW-INCOME HOUSING REPAIR LOANS AND GRANTS

CATEGORY: Housing Assistance

OBJECTIVES
To give very low-income rural homeowners an opportunity to make essential repairs to their homes to make them safe and to remove health hazards to the family or the community.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Direct Loans; Project Grants

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
The Very Low-Income Housing Repair program provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners in rural areas to repair, improve, or modernize their dwellings or to remove health and safety hazards. Grant funds are only available to homeowners aged 62 or older who cannot repay a Section 504 Loan. This includes repairs or replacement of heating, plumbing or electrical services, roof or basic structure as well as water and waste disposal systems, and weatherization. Loans bear an interest rate of one percent and are repaid over a period up to 20 years. In addition to the above purpose, loan funds may be used to modernize the dwelling. Maximum loan amount cannot exceed a cumulative total of $20,000 to any eligible person and a maximum lifetime grant assistance is $7,500 to any eligibile person. The house must be located in an eligible rural area which does not not exceed 10,000 population. Some places with population between 10,000 and 25,000 may be eligible if not within a Metropolital Statistical Area (MSA). Assistance is available in States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana's and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must own and occupy a home in a rural area; and be a citizen of the United States or reside in the United States after having been legally admitted for permanent residence or on indefinite parole. Loan recipients must have sufficient income to repay the loan. Grant recipients must be 62 years of age or older and be unable to repay a loan for that part of the assistance received as a grant. Applicant's income may not exceed the very low-income limit set forth in RD Instructions.

INFORMATION CONTACTS
Regional or Local Office: Consult your local telephone directory for Rural Development county office number. If no listing, contact your Rural Development State office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

Headquarters Office: Director, Single-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-1474. Use the same number for FTS.

Web Site Address http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.