Ollie Dean Houser is the owner of a brand-new home at 1200 Highland by using the City of Rockdale’s HOME program which helps Rockdale residents get new homes by tearing down their current home and building a new one.
What is the HOME program? According to City Manager Barbara Holly, “This is a transformative program for those qualifying residents and to their neighbors.”
Holly went on to explain that the city is building three bedroom, two bath homes valued at $135,000 at no cost to the homeowner. The residents must maintain taxes and insurance on the homes that are built.
In general, 20 percent of the construction value is forgiven per year, so the home is owned outright by the owner after five years. The city provides a 5 percent cash match to the state for each home constructed, or $7,500 per home for the cost of construction.
Requirements for the HOME program are:
• The homeowner must own their own property and have the deed in their name, and a clear title. If the home is a mobile home the homeowner must provide a deed and a statement of ownership for the home from the Texas Department of Housing.
• The homeowner must be low- to moderate-income.
• The homeowner must have their home as their principal residence and be living in the home. If the home is deemed unsafe, they can show proof of residence within the last four years.
• The home will need to be inspected and deemed a tear down. Nearly everyone who applies meets this requirement.
The entire process takes about a year before going to construction and the homeowner must find a place to stay during construction.
The City of Rockdale has an agreement with the Texas Department of Housing to offer this program.
To find out more about the program, contact Home Program Grant Manager Ben Blanchard at the city at 512446-2511.
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