Homeownership: Empowering New Buyers
Recognizes an HFA for a new or enhanced program that best provides homeownership financing to HFA targeted customers.
Judging Criteria
Entries in the Homeownership category will be judged on the degree to which they:
- Are innovative
- Are replicable
- Respond to an important state housing need
- Use data, research, and analysis to demonstrate measurable benefits to HFA targeted customers and underserved markets
- Have a proven track record of success in the marketplace
- Provide benefits that outweigh costs
- Demonstrate effective use of resources
- Effectively employ partnerships
- Achieve strategic objectives
If you have questions, please email awards@ncsha.org or call 202-624-7710.
2014 Winner
Minnesota Housing (winner)
2014 Entries
District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency:
“DC Open Doors House Crawl”
DC Housing Finance Agency’s DC Open Doors single family mortgage program removes the significant, tangible barrier to homeownership, by offering assistance to homebuyers who but for inadequate down payment, can compete for, and own a home in the District of Columbia.
Idaho Housing and Finance Association:
“Finally Home! Homebuyer Education Expansion”
IHFA continues to develop and expand the Finally Home!®Homebuyer Education program, a robust online course that is a key component to empowering new buyers
Illinois Housing Development Authority:
“Empowering New Buyers with Welcome Home Illinois Program”
Illinois Housing Development Authority's Welcome Home Illinois program turns sustainable homeownership into a reality.
Minnesota Housing (winner):
“Reducing Barriers to Homeownership for Under-Served Populations”
Minnesota Housing focused their efforts to serve households of color and Hispanic ethnicity in all aspects of our business, from the first point of contact with their lending and real estate partners through training and technical support.
Ohio Housing Finance Agency:
“New Educational Offerings for Real Estate Agents Increase Program Awareness”
OHFA developed a plan to enhance its continuing education courses for real estate agents.
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency:
“Empowering New Buyers with Mortgage Credit Certificates”
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency retooled its funding model by incorporating additional options to consistently provide below-market interest rates to HFA-targeted borrowers.
Rhode Island Housing:
“Changing for the Better Initiative”
Under the umbrella of “Changing for the Better,” Rhode Island Housing rolled out within the past year a number of interrelated initiatives to improve lender participation and satisfaction and thereby expand its loan portfolio and reach within the state.
Tennessee Housing Development Agency:
“CONNECTing”
Tennessee Housing Development Agency restructured the "CONNECTing" program to strategically increase THDA mortgage production through building connections.
Virginia Housing Development Authority:
“Engaging Hispanic Homebuyers”
VHDA reaches out to Hispanic communities through marketing and community outreach to educate this demographic about the home buying process.
Washington State Housing Finance Commission:
“Downpayment Assistance Partnerships”
With eight downpayment assistance options, the Commission’s programs offer something for just about any low- to moderate-income homebuyer in the state of Washington.
