Miami, FL -- The City of Miami is issuing applications for the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program (FLHOP) starting Wednesday, August 5, 2009. The FLHOP provides a loan of up to $8,000, to income eligible persons and/or families (who qualify as first-time homebuyers), for use towards the purchase of a primary residence within City of Miami limits with a maximum sales price of $236,000.

In order to qualify for the loan, the applicant must: (1) have a maximum adjusted gross income of $75,000 for single taxpayer households or $150,000 for jointly filing taxpayer households; (2) not have owned a home in the past three years; (3) not have filed bankruptcy within the past 24 months. The home must be purchased prior to December 1, 2009, and the homebuyer must repay the City’s assistance amount within 18 months of the home’s purchase.

The FLHOP application package, which includes program guidelines, can be picked up at area NET offices, at the Dept. of Community Development, 444 SW 2nd Ave., Second Floor, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or on the web at www.miamigov.com/communitydevelopment/pages/applicationsforms . The application details how the program works and lists the required documentation that must be submitted by the homeowner and their lender in order to have the assistance processed. The City will commence to accept application packages as of Friday, September 4, 2009. Please refer to the application for additional requirements.

Applicants are assisted on a first-come, first-ready, first-served basis, and the program is based on funding availability. For additional questions, please call 311 or 305-416-1927.