City of Miami - Community Development

A “household” is defined as immediate members of a family living together who may be expected to contribute to the income of the house for a substantial period of the term of the loan. Households may also include unmarried adults living in the same unit as the applicant if they are expected to contribute to the income of the household for a substantial period of the term of the loan.

What are the loan terms?

Maximum loan of $150,000 at 0% for 30 years.

What type of properties are covered under this program?

Single family, detached, site-built owner-occupied residences.

How do I apply for the housing replacement program?

Residents cannot apply directly for this program. Residents need to apply for the Single Family Rehabilitation program and through that program it will be determined if your home needs to be referred to the Single Family Replacement Housing program.

Are there any preferences? How do you handle these preferences?

Preferences:

1. Disabled and elderly

2. Elderly (62 years or older).

3. Homeowners whose properties are located within any of the Neighborhood Development Zones (“NDZ”) or Model Blocks (“MB”).

4. No disability, non-elderly, does not reside within any NDZ or MB.

Priority:

Supersedes any type of preference

1. Applicants with Code Violations.

Is having a Homestead Exemption a requirement for this program?

Yes.

What can the funds be applied to?

a. All hard and soft costs associated with the construction of the replacement home as well as payment of impact fees.

b. All costs associated with the demolition of the property and the preparation of the lot for the new replacement home.

c. All costs associated with the relocation of the homeowner during the period of construction including, but not limited to, rent, moving expenses, and storage expenses.

Who decides what type of work needs to be done?

The City of Miami Department of Community Development’s Inspection Services Unit will visit/ enter the homeowner’s residence and will create a scope of work detailing all the needed repairs. This will allow the Housing Program Manager to make a determination whether the property qualifies for the Replacement program.

How much will it cost me to have the repairs done?

The cost will depend upon the bids your will receive for the construction of the new property. Maximum %150,000.

Can the homeowner perform his/her own construction as part of this program?

No. The City of Miami will not finance any replacement housing where the applicant performs any part of the work.

Who selects the general contractor to do the job?

The general contractor is selected through a bidding process. Once the scope of work is provided to the homeowner, the homeowner is responsible for procuring three (3) bids from general contractors and submitting such bids to the City. Please note that all general contractors will need to meet City of Miami requirements for their bids to be accepted.

What happens if I have any types of liens attached to my property?

The homeowner is responsible for curing any liens placed on the property prior to being able to participate in the program.

What if my property’s replacement cost does not reach the $150,000 limit offered by this program for ‘eligible’ costs? Can I still ask for an amount up to $150,000 and upgrade other items in my new house?

No. This program only covers eligible costs.

What if problems arise after the work has been completed?

The City requires contractors to provide a one year warranty on labor and materials and a 5-10 year warranty on a new roof. If a problem occurs after the work is completed, please contact the contractor that completed the work to resolve the problem. Please note that the City only facilitates the funding for the replacement of your home. Homeowners enter into a contract with the general contractor; therefore, any problems the homeowner may experience after the work has been completed need to be dealt directly with the general contractor.