Rehabilitation
Multi Family Housing

HOME Rental Rehabilitation Program

The HOME Rental Rehabilitation Program provides funding for the rehabilitation of existing rental properties. Properties must have at least 51% residential and meet rehabilitation standards after the work is completed. There is a five year compliance period for rent and income. Assistance is structured in the following manner:

  1. HOME developments needing $100,000 or more will receive a 0% deferred payment loan that will be coterminous with the existing first mortgage. Borrowers can obtain 100% financing as long as HOME expenditures do not exceed $14,000 per unit.
  2. HOME developments under $100,000 will receive a 0% deferred loan that is forgiven after a five year compliance period. Borrowers need to provide a 25% match towards the rehabilitation.

The HOME Rental Rehabilitation Program is administered by Semcac. As the community works towards the development of a landlords association and/or rental registration and inspection program, this group should market these resources to property owners in the community to assist with rehabilitation efforts.

Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program
The Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program works to assist owners of smaller rental properties to finance improvements. At the time the improvements are completed and units are rented, 75% of the units must be occupied by persons or families with an income less than 80% of the statewide median income. The loan is a 6% annual percentage rate, with a term of up to 15 years. Assistance is available for up to $25,000 for a one or two unit property, or $10,000 per unit for larger properties, with a maximum amount of $100,000. Semcac also administers the Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program.

Small Cities Development Program (SCDP)
In addition to owner occupied housing, rental housing is also an eligible activity through the Small Cities Development Program. The need for rehabilitation of older housing units both among owner and rental units has been clearly identified. If the City looks to meet the owner occupied housing needs through the SCDP, they should also analyze the interest by rental property owners to participate as well.

Freeborn Bank Building
The City of Albert Lea is offering two connected buildings for historic rehabilitation in the Central Business District. The buildings which are located at 201 South Broadway and 211 South Broadway were constructed in the early 1920’s and are four stories tall. The buildings share a common stairwell and elevator. The structure is in need of rehabilitation and would make a good candidate to assist in meeting the market rate housing demand while assisting in downtown revitalization efforts.