HOMES Program:
About the Program
The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners recognizes that homeownership is the single most important investment that many residents make in their lifetime. The County is a diverse community that wants all its residents to thrive . One effect of a robust real estate market is that affordable housing becomes scarce and the rising costs to retain residences can outpace income growth. This grant program is designed to assist qualified residential homeowners with low to moderate income within Mecklenburg County to retain their homes by reducing the financial burden resulting from the robust real estate market. Please view the FAQs for additional information.
Eligibility Requirements
The following criteria must be met in order to qualify for this program:
- The property must be located within Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
- The property must be the owner's legal primary residence at the time of application and consistently for the past three consecutive years as verified by recorded legal documents.
- The resident grant recipient's name(s) must be on the recorded deed or title.
- When the qualifying person's name is not on the deed but on a recorded life estate, the person may participate in the program.
Tax Status
- Ad valorem real estate taxes within the most recent consecutive three bills must be either paid in full or have no more than one bill of the three delinquent.
- Grant funds will first be applied to the current year and any remaining grant amount will be applied to the delinquent prior year bill, if any.
- In the instance when funds have been prepaid on the current year bill, the original amount of the current year bill is used to calculate the grant amount.
- Properties with bills that are four or more years delinquent do not qualify.
Income Requirement
- Household income must not exceed 80% of the area median income based on number of people in the family as set annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- Applicants will be required to indicate the number of persons that live in the household and provide proof of income.
Program Considerations – Ineligible applicants
- Applicants must not be participants in any of the following programs:
- City of Charlotte Aging in Place or Replacement Program
- North Carolina Homestead Exclusion
- North Carolina Property Tax Homestead Circuit Breaker
- North Carolina Disabled Veterans Exclusion
- North Carolina Present Use Value (PUV) Program
- Must not have any encumbrance attached to or binding upon the property including prior year property taxes, pending legal action, easement disputes, or other such encumbrances.
- Program recipients must apply for consideration annually.