“Come Home to Howard County” Housing Fair

Howard County Housing will host the “Come Home to Howard County” Housing Fair on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane in Columbia.  The event is free and open to the public. 

This premier event showcases everything individuals and families who currently live in or outside the County need to know about buying or renting a home in Howard County. 

This year’s Housing Fair will offer attendees the chance to talk one-on-one with more than 40 mortgage lenders, homebuilders and remodelers, housing specialists and real estate experts. 

There will be educational workshops, hands-on seminars, narrated bus tours of rental and home ownership communities, give-a-ways and County personnel to answer questions about the programs and services that make Howard County such a great place to “come home to.” 

The Fair will also be the site, and only site, of this year’s housing lottery drawing beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the school’s atrium.  The drawing offers an applicant the opportunity to purchase a home priced below market value in Howard County. 

The lottery winner may also be eligible for up to a $10,000 down payment and closing cost assistance from the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI). 

These funds are available to first-time homebuyers whose household income does not exceed 80% of the HUD Baltimore Metropolitan area median income; which as of January 1 is $101,940 for a family of four.  Applicants must be present to win. 

The featured lottery home is a 3-level townhome located in the Village of Owen Brown at 7373 Kerry Hill Court in Columbia.  The home boasts three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, refinished hardwood floors, a fireplace, a deck and a fully-finished walkout basement, and is listed for a substantially-reduced price of $199,900.  The home is currently undergoing a green design renovation which includes new Energy Star appliances, low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint and Green Label certified carpet throughout.   

To participate in the lottery drawing, all interested applicants must pre-qualify by submitting an application form available at Housing’s website, www.comehometohowardcounty.org, or by visiting the office at 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, 3rd floor in Columbia, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Factors considered for eligibility include income, assets, credit history and household size; maximum income program limits do apply. 

For a complete list of pre-qualification requirements and lottery rules visit Housing’s website.  Applications for the lottery must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6; no applications will be accepted at the Fair.

The lottery homes were acquired with Neighborhood Conservation Initiative grant funds from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.  The Neighborhood Conservation Initiative is the State’s federal stimulus allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, as authorized by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. 

The grant was awarded to address the negative impact of foreclosure and sub-prime lending nationwide by acquiring and rehabilitating foreclosed properties and preparing the homes for resale to moderate income households at reduced prices.

For more information about the Housing Fair and/or lottery houses, call (410) 313-6318 or visit www.comehometohowardcounty.org