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Ingham County touts $1.5M for home-buying assistance

Ingham County touts $1.5M for home-buying assistance

Money Moves Holt, MI local

The $1.5M in state funding, secured by Sen. Sarah Anthony, was highlighted at the program's first anniversary; for now the $30,000 loan only works on newly built or rehabbed homes

October 21st, 2026: Officials highlight $1.5M in state funding at DPA anniversary

Overview

Updated Oct 24

Ingham County's down-payment program offers up to $30,000 toward a home purchase. At the program's first-anniversary event on Oct. 21, state Sen. Sarah Anthony and County Treasurer Alan Fox highlighted $1.5 million in state funding that supports it.

Money for houses bought on the open market ran out Oct. 1. Until new dollars arrive, expected in early 2027, the $30,000 loan is limited to newly built or rehabilitated homes that got construction funding from the county's Housing Trust Fund.

Why it matters

For households under 80% of area median income, $30,000 can close the gap between renting and owning, but for now only on new-build homes.

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Key Indicators

$30,000
Maximum DPA assistance per homebuyer
Zero-interest, forgivable second mortgage for down payment and closing costs.
$1.5M
State funding behind the program
A state grant allocated to the program by June 2025; highlighted at the first-anniversary event on Oct. 21, 2026.
80%
Area median income cap for eligibility
For a single-person household in 2026, that means earning no more than $57,500.
$1,000
Minimum buyer contribution
Buyers must put in at least $1,000 and hold less than $30,000 in liquid assets.
$219,000
Sales price cap for existing homes
2025 HUD HOME program limit; new homes capped at $294,000.

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People Involved

Sarah Anthony
Sarah Anthony
Michigan state senator
Secured $1.5 million in state funding for Ingham County's Housing Trust Fund
 Diana Bartlett
Diana Bartlett
Housing Trust Fund coordinator, Ingham County
Coordinates the county's Down Payment Assistance Program

Organizations Involved

IC
Ingham County Treasurer's Office
County government office
Taking DPA applications only for Housing Trust Fund-supported new or rehabbed homes until new dollars arrive

Runs the county's DPA program alongside the Housing Trust Fund.
Capital Area Housing Partnership
Capital Area Housing Partnership
Nonprofit housing organization
Processing DPA applications for Trust Fund homes; tells applicants to check back in 2027 for open-market funds

Processes DPA applications and provides homebuyer education.

Timeline

2 events Latest: October 21st, 2026 · 3 weeks ago

  1. Officials highlight $1.5M in state funding at DPA anniversary

    Latest Funding

    At the program's first-anniversary event, state Sen. Sarah Anthony and County Treasurer Alan Fox highlighted $1.5 million in state funding supporting the Housing Trust Fund and homeownership assistance.

  2. Open-market DPA funds run out

    Program status

    County announces that remaining funds for homes on the open market are spent. DPA limited to Housing Trust Fund-supported properties.

Scenarios

1

Funding restores open-market assistance

Likely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Ingham County DPA program page; local housing advocates

The $1.5M replenishes the DPA fund, allowing income-eligible buyers to use the $30,000 assistance on any qualifying home in the county again. The county's own site expects new program dollars in early 2027, suggesting this is part of that rollout.

2

Funding limited to Housing Trust Fund homes

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: County Treasurer's office materials

The new money is directed entirely to construction gap funding, expanding the pool of Trust Fund–supported homes but not reopening open-market purchases. Buyers get assistance only on those specific properties.

3

Funding delayed or insufficient

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Program FAQ timeline

The $1.5M is slow to reach the program or proves too small to meaningfully expand availability. The county's expected 'early 2027' announcement slips, leaving the program capped at Trust Fund homes.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

1990

HUD HOME Investment Partnerships Program (1990)

Congress created the HOME program under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. It provides formula grants to states and localities for building, buying, and rehabbing affordable housing.

Then

States and cities gained a flexible source of capital for low-income housing projects.

Now

HOME became a primary federal funding stream for local down-payment assistance and housing trust funds, which many counties like Ingham rely on today.

Why this matters now

Ingham County's DPA uses HOME price limits and is funded through similar housing trust fund mechanisms. The new $1.5M state allocation extends this model at the county level.

Sources

(6)
+1
WKAR News Ingham County Capital Area Housing Partnership Ingham County WILX WKAR Public Media