In today’s fast-moving housing market, purchasing a HUD-owned home is an option more people are considering. These homes are owned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and offered for sale in as-is condition at fair market value.

HUD also offers programs that may help you with the financing, budgeting, and money management required to purchase and own a home.

These days, many people are in the home buying market. However, across the country houses are in short supply. No one knows when the market will change or when the inventory of homes will increase.

Now is an excellent time to review the HUD housing inventory in your area and take advantage of HUD programs that can help you purchase a home. With the right preparation, you can be ready when the right opportunity for you comes along!

What is a HUD home?

HUD homes are one- to four-unit single-family residences acquired due to a foreclosure on a federally insured FHA mortgage.

One attractive feature of working with HUD for your home purchase is special government programs when you finance your purchase with an FHA mortgage. For example, you may qualify for the $100 down payment program instead of the standard 3.5% down payment generally required by FHA. Additionally, the option of financing any needed repairs in your new home may help you conserve cash. These benefits specifically apply when you purchase HUD homes in Georgia. Each state is different, so be sure to check with a HUD specialist in your state.

Who Can Buy a HUD home?

HUD does not sell homes in the traditional way. Instead, they use an auction-style sale to get the price they seek. There are specific steps a potential buyer must take to qualify for bidding, and you need the assistance of a licensed Realtor to make the bid for you. Nevertheless, anyone is eligible to purchase a HUD home. Buyers fall into three categories:

1. People interested in buying and occupying the home.
2. Investors.
3. Government agencies and HUD-approved non-profit organizations.

Steps to Purchasing a HUD home

Here are the steps that you can take right now to prepare for HUD homeownership:

• Contact a lender that specializes in financing HUD homes and get pre-qualified for a mortgage.
• Save for your down payment and closing costs. The more savings you have, the better.
• Contact a licensed real estate agent/ HUD specialist in your area.
• Look for available HUD-homes by visiting:  www.HUDHomestore.gov.
• When you are ready to proceed, contact your real estate agent to view homes and to submit your offer.

HUD Homeownership Awaits

You can search HUD-owned homes for sale anytime at  www.HUDHomestore.gov. Click the dropdown menu to select the state and city for which you are inquiring, then press the Search button. A listing of available homes will appear. Be sure to check back often because the inventory of homes changes daily.

Altimese Dees,  Georgia HUD Listing Broker

Altimese Dees has been a HUD Listing Broker and specialist since 2010. Her extensive knowledge about the HUD buying process in Georgia can help guide you every step of the way, from reviewing homes to placing bids to helping you close on your new purchase.

Interested in exploring your options for purchasing a HUD-owned home in Georgia? Contact Altimese Dees, Principal Broker for The Real Estate Gallery of Georgia at 770-217-7518, or email: deesaltimese@gmail.com.

HUD’s Mission

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination and transform the way HUD does business. (https://www.hud.gov/about/mission)

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About Altimese Dees  Altimese Dees is Principal Broker/Owner of The Real Estate Gallery of Georgia, Realtors (https://www.realestategalleryga.com). Altimese is a HUD local listing broker in Georgia for PEMCO Limited, asset management contractor for the U.S. Department of HUD, serving regions 7A (GA) and 6S (AL, OR, WA). For additional information about PEMCO Limited, visit: https://www.PEMCO-Limited.com.  All information herein is believed to be true, but not warranted.

We can’t all live in gated communities with night guards, topiaries, and brick sidewalks, but everyone deserves to live in a safe and comfortable environment. Sometimes in larger cities that safe and comfortable vision seems to be far away. With one person that can change. Are you that person?
In your neighborhood, what are the major issues constraining revitalization? For example, some major issues would be drugs, gangs, prostitution, homelessness, etc. These are issues that need to be targeted first. These are the things that if not taken care of, will lead to other problems once you start making progress. First, go to the police and point out your concerns. Another thing you can do is to enforce guards — maybe start a Neighborhood Watch Program so that people can get around the neighborhood safely.
Once you’ve gotten rid of the major issues, here are a few strategies that will help you to improve the community:
1. Start with the best block – “But if it’s the best, then why do we need to work on it?” By ‘best block’ I mean the block that has the most potential. For instance, if there is a vacant lot in your community that has a big shade tree, it may be a good idea to target that area for a community park. Pull the potential out of the lot. Be sure to research the owner of the land, make contact with them and ask for permission to proceed.
2. Start with the eyesore – The ‘eyesore’ is that old unofficial dumping area in the neighborhood, the torn up sidewalk or the pothole that catches everyone’s tire. You could start with the visible or more complained about areas in your neighborhood and work towards improvement.
3. Drive out un-kept lawns – If there are residents in your area that refuse to maintain their lawns or the exterior of their property, try contacting the county’s Code Enforcement Office. They may be able to provide assistance in helping you to clean up the community.
These are just a few long-term ideas to help you begin revitalization in your neighborhood. If you present this information to your Neighborhood Homeowner’s Association or just a group of concerned neighbors, you may be able to gain buy-in from them and create a task force that will be committed to this project and greatly improve your neighborhood.
You can also work on a smaller scale. For instance, one man in Los Angeles knew that his neighborhood wasn’t the best, so he decided to plant vegetable gardens in empty lots and along curbs. One night, he says that he saw a woman stealing from a garden. He came out and confronted her. She immediately said that she was sorry for stealing, but she was hungry. He proceeds to tell her that the gardens were created for people like her- the ones that are hungry and can’t afford to go to the store, the ones who just can’t make it to the store and the ones who need the vegetables from the gardens. Note that this is in the middle of the city, in very small lots, medians and curbs. But just think — this one man decided that he needed to help his neighborhood with the poverty, the hunger and the neediness—so he planted these gardens. Who knows how many people he has actually helped by making these vegetable gardens?

In another city, a young artist decided to talk to the city council and mayor. She asked them for permission to paint murals throughout the city. They granted her permission and she began. She painted murals throughout the historic district, and every time someone saw them they would just light up. The murals were done from photographs taken from the past; and when the elders of the town saw them, they would speak of how they were blessed with memories from their childhood and teenage years. That is certainly one way to revitalize a neighborhood!
When revitalizing your neighborhood, you may wonder how you would get the funds to begin. Below are some ideas to help you achieve your goals:
• Car washes – Let people know that all proceeds will go to neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Donations – Let people know that it’s for a specific project, such as the neighborhood garden, or preserving a historical landmark.
• Bake Sales – These are easy to do and there are many people who enjoy baking and eating.
• Neighborhood cook off – Invite the whole community; and people can pay to vote for the best cook.
• Selling goods – This does not necessarily mean just selling food, try selling other items such as quilts, bracelets, etc., that are handmade.

If you’re one of the people who want to make a difference in your neighborhood and/or someone’s life, then start now on your journey towards neighborhood revitalization. You will be a community hero because everyone deserves to live in a beautiful and safe community.

Altimese Dees is Principal Broker/Owner for The Real Estate Gallery of Georgia (www.RealEstateGalleryGA.com).  She may be contacted via email at: Altimese.Dees@RealEstateGalleryGA.com.

Resources:
• http://www.useful-community-development.org/neighborhood-revitalization.html

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