Miami-Dade County will give three eligible households the chance to buy newly built homes through a public lottery this September. The Welcome H.O.M.E. program also offers selected buyers access to down payment assistance, financing options and homebuyer guidance as they navigate the purchase process.
Key takeaways
- Applications will be accepted online from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, or until 200 qualified applications are received.
- Applicants must earn less than 140% of the area median income and live in the home as their primary residence.
- Three households will ultimately be offered the homes after financial qualification.
- Only one application is allowed per household.
How the lottery will work
The Welcome H.O.M.E. initiative is operated by the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust in partnership with JL Brown Development Corp. Eligible applicants will be entered into a public drawing after their initial information is reviewed.
The lottery will rank 10 households. The first six ranked applicants will be asked to complete the financial qualification process, and the three highest-ranked applicants who qualify will receive offers to purchase the homes. If a selected household cannot complete the transaction, the county will move to the next eligible applicant on the ranked list.
Application requirements and timeline
Applications must be submitted online during the September application period. Paper applications will not be accepted, and the application window could close early if the county reaches its limit of 200 qualified applications.
Applicants must meet the program’s income requirements and plan to occupy the property as their primary residence. Because income thresholds differ based on household size, prospective buyers should review the current eligibility rules before applying. Submitting more than one application per household is not permitted.
Assistance for prospective buyers
The program is designed to provide more than access to the lottery. Households selected to move forward can receive help understanding financing, obtaining down payment assistance and completing the homebuying process.
The county is encouraging interested residents to attend an information session covering the application, lottery and purchasing procedures. One session will be held in person in August, while another will be offered online. Attendance is encouraged but is not identified as a condition of applying.
What applicants should do next
Prospective applicants should review the Welcome H.O.M.E. eligibility standards, gather household and income information, and monitor the county’s program website for registration details and the online application. Since applications are limited, completing the process early may be important once the portal opens.
Sources
- Miami-Dade to open lottery for three newly built homes | Miami, IslanderNews.com.