Mercer County Offers Assistance to First-Time Homebuyers

Mercer County wants to help families achieve the dream of home ownership through its First-Time Homebuyer Program workshops.

Buying a home is likely the largest transaction an individual will make, but it’s also the most confusing and complicated.

“Mercer County is again offering assistance to potential homeowners through our First-Time Homebuyer Program, and I invite you to sit in on one of the upcoming workshops to learn more about the lending process,” said County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

Participants can learn how the mortgage process works, and participating lenders will be on hand to guide applicants and provide answers. Two of the greatest obstacles faced by potential first-time homebuyers are down payment and closing costs. The Mercer County First-Time Homebuyer Program assists income-eligible applicants by contributing up to $7,000 toward down payment and closing costs.

Eligibility for assistance is based on family size and income, and lenders will help determine mortgage eligibility based on income, credit rating and current monthly expenses. To receive assistance, applicants must participate in a Homebuyer Training Course, cannot have owned a home within the past three years—unless that person is a single parent or displaced homemaker—and cannot own other real estate at the time of closing.

Potential buyers can shop for suitable homes in the following Mercer County municipalities participating in the program: East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence, Pennington, Princeton, Robbinsville and West Windsor.

The remaining workshops for 2013 will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates

• Thursday, Sept. 19, Hamilton Township Free Public Library, 1 Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.