Pierce County loan program targets first-time buyers

First-time home buyers may qualify to purchase a home with no down payment through the Pierce County Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which aims to provide eligible buyers with below-market-rate mortgages for purchase of vacant, bank-owned foreclosed homes. In addition to bank-owned, an eligible property can include a home that is 60 days delinquent on its mortgage and the owner has been notified; the property owner is 90 days or more delinquent on tax payments; or under state or local law, foreclosure proceedings have been initiated or completed; or foreclosure proceedings have been completed and title has been transferred to an intermediary aggregator or servicer. All homes must be located within Pierce County and outside the city limits of Tacoma and Lakewood, to be eligible. Initial prescreening questionnaires for the program will be accepted through May 21. Information on how to apply, the pre-screening questionnaire, and the qualifying process are available at http://www.piercecountywa.org/PC/abtus/ourorg/comsvcs/housing/html/cs_home5.htm . The program is offered through the Pierce County Community Development Corporation. Please visit the website or call 253-798-7038 for more information.