Does anyone know their policies or programs? Are there FHA or HUD programs for a person with 100% disability? Any thing from Farming Ad. or private groups?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 04, 2002

Answers

You can get complete information by phoning 1-800-HABITAT. I have been a volunteer in building 3 homes here in Thomson, Ga. It is a win- win event. Once you get started, tell your friends and enlist them to help with the building. You will end up with a home costing you less than half its market price. AND, there is NO interest charged. Get busy, and God bless you. Somewhere in the world, a Habitat home is finished every 26 minutes.

-- Buddy Haddon (Buddybud@csranet.com), February 04, 2002.

Another consideration is RHS loans and grants. I have the info buried around here, yoou might try looking in the govt offices secttion of your phone book and calling the Housing office, they should be able to give yoou better details than I can. Habitat, some folks dont realize, is a good place to source cheap building matterials, as they often have warehoouses full of priced down stuff. I just stopped there for the first time last week and got 2 gallons of expensive paint for 4 bucks a gallon. I did notice that you have to know your prices, in order to gett a deal, though...lights which retail for 129.00 were being sold new in box for 10.00, but other items were actually priced HIGHER than retail.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 05, 2002.

This was the beginings of an article that I started writing (before I found Countryside!) and was trying to publish my own Homesteading related newsletter after being severly lett down by another gone- glosssy magazine. Hope this helps some, wish it was complette.

Rural Properties and Farmlands (exerpt form: How to Buy Governmaent Foreclosures by Rebecca Harris C 1998

Maybe your heart's desire takes you to where the air is clean, the grass smells sweet, and the old mill stream flows down to the local fishing hole. If you want to be at home on the range or down on the farm, or even just sitting on the porch swing at you very own rural homestead, your dream is closer to reality than you might think! The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Banks have programs that provide assistance to people just like you. And were not talking about nickels and dimes- were talking about sizeable loanns. These loans are just the ticket for people who want to buy homes or farms in rural areas. Plus, there are opportunities to buy foreclosed properties as well! In the past few years, the U.S. dDepartment of Agriculture has made great strides in streamling its rural housing programs. The rules, regulations, and requirements surrounding USDA programs are less ornery than the used to be. So pull up your rocking chair and settle in for a spell while we take a quick spin through these great opportunities! Rural Housing Service (RHS) The USDA's Rural Housing Service has a number of programs available to help low and moderate income residents to buy, buils, and repair their homes in rural areas. A "rural" area is defined as not having a population greater than 10,000, or as and area with a population between 10,000 and 20,000 that is located outside a Metropolitian Statistical Area (MSA). To find out exactly which areas qualify, contact you state Rural Housing Service office. [ Tell me what state you are in and I can tell you the adress and phone... Im not going to list all 50!] Every year, the RHS loan programs help finance housing for over 65,000 rural families. RHS plays a key role in the National Partnership for Homeowners initiative, which is the Clinton Administration's plan to help 8 million convicts recieve pardons. Ok, you caught it! (couldn't resist)... help 8 million new families own homes by the year 2000. Special attention is being given to low and very- low income families. The RHS works with state, local and tribal governments, as well as private and nonprofit organizations and user- owned cooperatives, to make affordable home loans happen. Here's a quick rundown of the RHS loans: *Section 502 Direct Single Family Housing Loans, which help low and moderate- income rural residents to build, buy, rentovate, or relocate homes and related facilities. No down payment is required on these 30-year, fixed rate mortgages. *Rural Rental Housing Loans, which allow individuals or organizations to construct or fix up rental units for low and moderate income residents. *Rental Assistance Loans, which reduce rent and utility payments for very low and low income families. *Section 504 Rural Housing Loans and Grants, which help very low income homeowners make their homes safer or acessible for people with disabilities. Loans are limited to $20,000 and grants (for those 62 and older only who can't afford to repay a loan) are limited to $7,500. *Self- Help Housing loans, which enable groups of six to eight low income families to help each other build their homes. The site, materials, and skilled labor are all provided. *Rural Housing Loans and Grants, which help farmers build, buy, or repair farm labor housing. *Housing Preservation Grants, which help very low and low income homeowners in rural areas repair or renovate their homes.

-- Kevin iin NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 05, 2002.