SC Housing Salutes "Palmetto Heroes" with 3% Mortgage Rate Offer

    

Special Homebuyer Program Makes $7.7M Available for Loans and Down Payment Assistance

Columbia, S.C. - March 26, 2013 - Today, the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) announced it is once again making funds available to help South Carolina's heroes - law enforcement officers, correctional officers, teachers, firefighters, nurses, veterans and EMS personnel - that want to become homeowners. The 2013 Palmetto Heroes Program, a $7.7 million initiative, offers qualified homebuyers a low interest rate of 3% and $5,000 in down payment assistance - some buyers may even qualify for up to $8,000 in down payment assistance on newly constructed homes.

Purchasing your first home can be challenging for anyone - especially those in a noble profession making only a modest salary. Palmetto Heroes is one way SC Housing salutes members of these professions by offering low interest loans to those who qualify. A huge benefit of the program - the down payment assistance - could even be forgivable over time in some cases, depending on the borrower's income!

"This program is our way of honoring these dedicated individuals who contribute so much to our state," said Valarie Williams, Executive Director of SC Housing. "It's important that we invest as much in them as they do into our state each and every day. We hope this program might even strengthen recruitment and retention in these careers, which are crucial to our state's overall wellbeing."

To date, the Palmetto Heroes Program has made over 600 mortgage loans totaling over $72 million. The average loan amount is $116,480, and the average household income is approximately $43,000.

Those who do not qualify for the Palmetto Heroes Program may still qualify for one of the other homeownership programs offered by SC Housing, which are available year round to a broad range of South Carolinians seeking to become homeowners.

More about Palmetto Heroes

Palmetto Heroes is available to law enforcement officers, correctional officers, teachers, firefighters, veterans, nurses and EMS personnel who are currently certified in their profession, and reside and work in South Carolina. Mortgage loans can be up to 30 years and are available through any of SC Housing's network of more than 100 participating private sector lenders and brokers statewide. Maximum income limits are based on the median income per county and household composition. The Palmetto Heroes Program may not be used for refinancing.

For more information, contact one of the real estate professionals, banks or mortgage brokers certified in SC Housing programs. Visit www.SCHousing.com for a complete list.  

For more information contact

The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority

Clayton Ingram

Director, Marketing and Communications

300-C Outlet Pointe Blvd.

Columbia, SC 29210

Ph:  (803) 896-9520

Email: clayton.ingram@schousing.com

HBA Finishes Habitat for Humanity of Greenville projects!

The end of March not only marked the beginning of Spring (and unpredictable weather) but also marked a finishing point in the ongoing HBA and and Habitat of Greenville partnership to complete two projects.  A repair project; and a weatherization project that was just completed one week ago with new windows installed, a new attic platform with new insulation, and a new back door. Each of the owners of these homes is so grateful that we were able to help in making their home more comfortable, efficient, and enhance the look of their home.

We would like to thank the companies who donated supplies and time for each of the projects and thank the ones that have helped on this most recent weatherization project.
Addison Homes
Stock Building Supply
GBS Building Supply
Palmetto Exterminators

Also, Thank you to our volunteers who came out and provided their time and skills to complete these projects.
Jon Statom- Palmetto Exterminators
Eddie Howard- Howard Construction
John Wolfrom- Providence Realty and Marketing
Andrew Woodford- ABW Construction

We look forward to more partnerships with the Habitat for Humanity of Greenville in the future!
If you know of a project that we can help with please contact the HBA of Greenville office at 864-254-0133.

Annual Bird Supper is April 9

Since 1970 HBASC Members and South Carolina's legislators have been attending the Bird Supper. It is the longest standing event on the S.C. legislative calendar.

• When: April 9, 2013, 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Seawell's, Columbia, SC

Other events are planned throughout the day. Key events include:

• HBASC Board of Directors meeting, 3:30 p.m.
• S.C. Builders PAC Reception, 5:30 p.m.

Join us as we gather with our legislators over a delicious supper of fried quail, grits, green beans, biscuits and other fine southern cuisine.

Tickets are $35 per person. Contact the Home Builders Association of Greenville at (864) 254-0133 or click here to register online.

Value of Membership: Cost-Effective Building Codes

Builder Review continues its highlight of the more than 100 initiatives by your HBA that have saved HBA members during the last year.  Below is another way your HBA is saving our members money.

Working for Flexible, Cost-Effective Building Codes. Keeping building codes flexible, cost-effective and product-neutral remains a top NAHB priority. Every year, your HBA analyzes thousands of proposed codes from mandatory fire sprinklers to energy conservation rules and prevents requirements that could add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of building a new home without any appreciable benefit to home buyers.

According to the NAHB Research Center’s 2012 IECC Cost Effectiveness Analysis, the additional cost to build a home to the 2012 IECC relative to the 2006 IECC is $7,034. The majority of that increase – $5,668 – is associated with the changes between the 2009 and 2012 versions of the IECC. NAHB’s successful effort to prevent widespread adoption of the 2012 IECC energy code in several states was a victory for sensible, flexible, cost-effective regulation.  South Carolina is one of the states that has locked in the 2009 IECC.

In addition, your HBA has amended the 2012 IRC to insure that automatic fire sprinklers will not be mandated in new homes in South Carolina.  Two dozen additional amendments also approved for the residential code are set to be adopted with the code on July 1, 2013.

Class on stormwater permit and building code changes: FREE for builders members

The Storm Water Codes for Greenville County have been updated, as a courtesy and included in the price of your Builder Membership the HBA of Greenville will be hosting a class to highlight and educate you on these codes. The class will be held at Progress Lighting on April 11th beginning at 8 a.m with continental breakfast served and the meeting will conclude at 11:30 a.m.

Thank you GBS Building Supply for sponsoring the class and helping make the class free to Home Builders.

Speakers for this event include:

• Jessica Chapman- PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer - Environmental
• John McLeod- Chief Building Codes Officil
• Steve Landrith- Chief Building Official for the City of Greenville
• Judy Wortkoetter- PE, Greenville County Engineer.

For associate members of the HBA of Greenville the cost to participate in this class is $20 and $35 for non members.  To register for this class please contact Crystal Yanes at 864-254-0133 or cyanes@hbaofgreenville.com.

On another note the HBA of Greenville and the State HBA has been committed to adoption of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) in order to maintain affordable housing for all South Carolina residents by keeping required residential sprinklers out of the adopted code.  We are expecting this code to become effective in July.