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Loan funds are available to help homebuyers cover part of their down payment and closing costs when purchasing a home. The city of Clearwater, through its approved non-profit housing agencies, provides down payment and closing costs assistance to income eligible households who meet program criteria.

Assistance is provided in the form of a loan, 50% of which will be amortized over 20 years, payment on the other 50% will be deferred and forgiven at loan maturity, so long as no event of default exists. If the borrower defaults on any of the terms of the mortgage, the deferred amount will become due and payable. If the home is sold prior to the maturity date, the entire outstanding balance will be due to the City.

Payments will begin on the 50% amortized balance after a five-year deferral period. The property to be purchased must be the borrower’s principal residence and must be located within the city limits of Clearwater. The maximum loan amount is $45,000. The maximum sales price is $244,000 for an existing home and $263,000 for a newly constructed home.

You must complete at least eight hours of pre-purchase homebuyer education workshop with a housing counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at least two weeks prior to closing.

Workshops are usually eight hours long, held over one or more sessions during a single weekend. Costs vary depending on the counseling agency. At the end of the workshop, you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate is good for one year. 

Below is a list of HUD-approved agencies that are currently contracted through the city of Clearwater: 

608 N. Garden Ave. Clearwater, FL 33755 Phone: (727) 442-4155 Email: maholmes@cnhs1.org

Once you have completed the homebuyer education workshop, you may then contact a city-registered mortgage lender to secure a loan commitment for a first-time mortgage with a fixed rate. 

If you already have a lender and they are not registered with the city of Clearwater, they will need to follow the process to become registered. 

An inspection is required to verify that the housing meets applicable safety and code requirements. The city will consult with a third-party contractor to conduct required property inspections. The inspection must be completed using HUD’s Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) form. The inspection must be completed no more than 90 days before the commitment of HOME funds. There is no charge to the client for this inspection. If any of the minimum housing code standards are not met, these must be completed, corrected and re-inspected prior to closing.

The city code inspection does not replace a need for a home inspection. Please continue to hire a inspector to conduct a detailed home inspection of the property.

Once you have an executed contract for sale of purchase, your mortgage lender can start the "Down Payment Assistance Application".

The sub-recipient portal is hosted by Neighborly. Neighborly is accessibly via any internet-enable device, however works best on the Google Chrome browser.

When you access Neighborly for the first time, you'll need to create your account by clicking on the "Register" link. Choose a username, password and email to receive notifications at. 

For security purposes, you will need to validate your email. Neighborly will send you an email notification, follow the instructions in the email and validate your address. If you do not receive the email within two minutes, check your spam, bulk mail or junk mail folder. If the email appears there, you can right-click on the email to mark it as "Not Junk" or "Not Spam" to ensure you receive all other Neighborly emails.

The Down Payment Assistance Program is funded through the federal HOME Investment Partnership (HOME Program) and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program. In accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, or Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended in 1988. The City of Clearwater will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familiar status, age or national origin.

To complete the file in accordance with the local and the state’s guidelines, the borrower and lender will be asked for the following information and types of supporting documents:

When the applicant is married and the spouse does not intend to reside in the home, documentation of permanent alternate residence must be provided.

All adult household members who are 18 and over must complete the Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Assistance Application and sign an Authorization to Release Information Form.

NOTE: The lender can initially provide a copy of their closing cost worksheet, but prior to final approval, the City or its designee must receive a copy of the final Good Faith Estimate.

8.) Tax Return/1040 for the most recent year - all pages and schedules - signed by the borrower(s). If the borrower does not have a copy, a printout from the IRS is acceptable. (To obtain this form or printout, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040).

Must be signed by buyer and seller

Borrower will need to verify if the property is vacant, seller occupied, tenant occupied or if the Borrower currently resides in the property. If the property is currently vacant, verify if the last occupant was the seller or a tenant.

A Uniform Physical Condition Standard Inspection (UPCS) report, from a City approved inspector, will be performed to show that property “passes” and all deficiencies are repaired. This inspection is ordered by and paid for by the City. 

Required for all adults residing in the property who are 18 years of age or older, regardless of whether or not they are a part of the mortgage. 

The following documents will be required:

The following documentation will be required:

The following documentation will be required:

The following documentation will be required:

The following documentation will be required:

If the child support is court-ordered, but the applicant does not receive it regularly, it must still be included in household income, unless the applicant can show that they have begun proceedings with the state against the spouse who is not paying). If the borrower has dependents but is not receiving any support, they must execute a child support affidavit.

In order to verify assets, all borrowers must provide: 

Non-occupant co-borrowers must provide the following information:

NOTE: Per State Guidelines, Co-Signers cannot take Title to the property or be listed on the Warranty Deed.

The following information will be required prior to closing:

Economic Development & Affordable Housing

Please visit either the Clearwater Housing Authorityor the Pinellas County Housing Authority to find more properties, apply for rental assistance or obtain a housing voucher. There are multiple affordable housing units located in Clearwater:

Clearwater Apartments 1000 North Keene Road (727) 446-2244

Foundation Village 910 Woodlawn Street (727) 461-0618

Fulton Apartments 1602-1620 Fulton Avenue (727) 461-0618

Garden Trail Apartments 608 Eldridge Street (727) 998-1365

Lexington Club Apartments 1200 South Missouri Avenue (727) 446-2582 A 240-unit garden apartment complex offering two-bedroom units to elderly and disabled persons.

Madison Point LLC 400 South MLK Avenue 813-971-0123 Senior Living (55+) one- and two-bedroom units

Mainstreet Apartments 1100 South Missouri Avenue (727) 443-3339 A 204-unit apartment complex offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Melrose on the Bay 16321 Bolesta Road (727) 531-2369 A 358-unit apartment complex offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Norton Apartments 1450 South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue (727) 441-9010 A 48-unit apartment complex offering one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units.

Pine Berry Senior Apartments 1225 Highland Avenue 727-259-7064

Pineview Apartments 1585 Greenlea Drive (727) 442-0546 A 50-unit apartment complex offering one- and two-bedroom units.

Sabal Walk 2065 North Highland Avenue (727) 449-1956 A 182-unit garden apartment complex offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

The Hampton at Clearwater 1099 McMullen Booth Road (727) 726-8861 A 275-unit apartment complex with one- and two-bedroom units for elderly persons.

Tieman Village 1101, 1115 & 1119 Woodlawn Street C/O Community Service Foundation (727) 461-0618

Wellington Apartments 2900 Drew Street (727) 726-6888 A 352-unit apartment complex offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Wind Tree Villas 5384-A Laurel Place (727) 535-6062 A 133-unit apartment complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Woodlawn Trail Apartments 803 Woodlawn Loop (727) 266-6174 Two and three-bedroom units

WOW! Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

City of Clearwater Municipal Services Building 100 S. Myrtle Ave. Clearwater, FL 33756 View on Map