Matching Funds Home Repair Loan

The Matching Funds Repair Loan differs from our Deferred Payment Loans because the Housing Repair Program can loan up to $25,000 and the homeowner MATCHES this loan with a loan from a local lender or with private funds. If the total cost for the repairs exceeds $50,000, the entire amount above $50,000 is the responsibility of the homeowner.

As with the Deferred Payment Loan, the Housing Repair Program can provide up to $25,000. The loan has a zero percent interest rate and does not require you to make payments, so it is also very different from a traditional bank loan.

The loan must be paid off when: 1) You sell or transfer the property to a new owner; or 2) You move out of the home and it is no longer your primary residence. If you borrow money against your home after you receive a Housing Repair Program Loan, your new lender may require that the King County loan be paid off.

The Housing Repair Program does not charge a fee for this service. There may be fees incidental to this service, such as the cost of getting an appraisal of your property and/or a title report. Those fees can be included in your loan and are usually less than $175.00.

Eligibility

Eligible homeowners are those who:

• Own and live in the home they want to repair.
• Live in King County, outside the city limits of the City of Seattle and Normandy Park. (Note: The City of Seattle has its own housing repair program. Click here to be transferred. Also, residents of Bellevue, Kent, Federal Way and Auburn must be referred by their city's respective program.
• Have an eligible household income level - click here to see if you are income eligible.
• Do not have assets that exceed $40,000, not counting the value of your home. Applicants with a long-term disability or over the age of 55 years are exempt from this guideline, as long as the asset does not generate income that exceeds the HUD annual income limits. 
• Have sufficient home equity - the total proposed amount that you will owe against your property must be less than 90% of the total property value. Exceptions to the equity requirement for sever emergency or health and safety conditions are reviewed on a case by case basis.

We can help you determine if you meet all the eligibility requirements that may apply.

How to Apply for Service

Call 206-263-9095 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Click here for a list of things you will be asked to share when you call.

Overview of Application and Repair Process

After a Housing Repair phone application is taken, you will send in the required financial documentation needed to complete the initial application process. Once you have sent your information to us, we will visit you in the comfort of your own home during normal business hours to assess the repair work. Housing Repair Program staff will assist you with the process of contracting with a private construction contractor of your choice. The private contractor will then perform all of the work on your home.