special to Realty/Builder Connection
The Florida Home Builders Association is working for down payment assistance for Florida's low-to-moderate-income home buyers who qualify to purchase new homes.
In recent years, FHBA has successfully fought attempts limit down payment assistance to existing homes, exempting new construction, according to FHBA's chief lobbyist Doug Buck.
"We have won those battles and will continue to fight them," said Buck.
In January, the offices of the Governor and Attorney General worked with the Legislative Budget Commission to make $35 million available in down payment assistance through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and participating local lenders.
The monies came through a national mortgage fraud settlement.
There is now a continuing debate in Tallahassee on how to use additional funds from the settlement.
The FHBA continues to press for more down payment assistance through the Sadowski Affordable Housing Fund.