If you are a woman looking to head to college, the good news is that you can find special grant options specifically designed for female students. Because of the historical imbalance between men and women in certain specified industries, colleges and non-profit organizations are looking for ways to encourage women to pursue such degrees and careers. This means you can benefit as a female student.

Start by looking at options through women’s colleges. Sure, you would probably rather attend a co-ed school, but if you need money, you need to explore all of your options. Many private women’s colleges offer grants to their students. For instance, Agnes Scott College in Atlanta offers many grants and scholarships for a variety of merit reasons. This school also has a specific scholarship fund set up to benefit Hispanic women by providing qualified Hispanic students with a full ride scholarship.

Some colleges focus on encouraging women to pursue underrepresented degree programs. Medical, math, technology, and engineering degrees tend to be male dominated. Because colleges value diversity, this trend is alarming, and many offer grants to help offset it.

Not all grants are offered through colleges. For instance, the Ford Foundation’s Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for Minorities has a variety of grants available for women and other minorities who are pursuing an underrepresented degree field, particularly in math or science. The National Physical Science Consortium also has grants and scholarships for women who pursue science degrees. These non-profit organizations are working hard to make sure that women are represented in their fields, and as a result you can benefit when you are ready to head to school.

If you are a female student who is also economically disadvantaged, you have even more options to consider. If you are looking to further your degree past college in order to get a better career, the Business and Professional Women’s Association has several grant options for you. The Jeanette Rankin Foundation has options for women over 35 who are looking to head back to school but face tremendous monetary need.

The bottom line is that women can find help with their college expenses. Colleges, non-profit organizations, and women’s groups all offer women help with attending school. Before you assume that the government is your only source of financial aid as a female college student, you need to look into these other options, because you have plenty of help available as a female student!

Are you looking for more College Grant options? Check out this information on Nursing Grants and Grants for Women

Florida Housing is a State Financing Corporation created over 20 years ago to help Floridians obtain safe, decent housing that might otherwise be unavailable to them. Their “First-Time” Homebuyer Program provides low interest mortgage loans and financial incentives throughout the year, for eligible homebuyers who haven’t owned a home as a primary residence within the past 3 years.

Program Highlights

The program offers low-interest 30 and 40 year fixed-rate loans, downpayment and closing costs assistance as well as access to credit counseling.

Teachers, firefighters, healthcare workers, police officers, as well as active duty and veteran military personnel could be eligible for lower interest rates.

Eligible applicants include individuals who:

? have never owned a home,
? don’t claim their mobile home as real property,
? haven’t owned a home as their primary residence within the past three years,
? have established credit worthiness,
? have an annual income that does not exceed program limits.

Downpayment Assistance

Florida Housing offers two downpayment and closing cost assistance programs in the form of second mortgage loans, and one in the form of an upfront cash assistance to help eligible homebuyers cover their downpayment and closing costs.

Downpayment Assistance

Programs: Offers Up To:
(Income limits apply)
FLORIDA ASSIST PROGRAM $10,000- Applicants with annual income at or below 80% Area Median Income
ASSISTANCE FOR MODERATE INCOME (HAMI) $5,000-Applicants with moderate income

The City of Orlando offers a Downpayment Assistance Program, available to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers for the purchase of a home within the City limits of Orlando. Depending on the gross household income, assistance may be $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000.

Teachers and public safety personnel, who are moderate income, may qualify for $20,000 of assistance. City of Orlando employees, teachers, and public safety personnel who are purchasing homes within the city limits of Orlando do not have to be first time homebuyers. Purchasers must occupy the property as a principal residence for at least ten (10) years. The downpayment assistance becomes a grant once the period of affordability has been satisfied.

Orange County provides funds to qualified first time homebuyers for down payment and closing costs associated with purchasing a home. The program provides assistance to qualified low and moderate income persons in Orange County on a first come, first ready basis. The program also requires that potential homebuyers complete a pre-purchase and post-purchase education program.

The buyer must:

? Meet the income requirements. Annual household income cannot exceed 120% of the area median income.
? Provide at least $1,000 of their own funds.
? Complete a home buyer’s education seminar.
? Secure first mortgage financing.

The property must:

? Be new or existing and located in Orange County, outside the city limits of Orlando.
? Not exceed a sales price of $219,000.
? Receive competitive fixed rate financing.
? Be fee simple ownership.

The assistance:

? Maximum ranges from $20,000 to $35,000 depending on household income.
? The County’s assistance is provided to the buyer’s closing agent at closing in the form of a soft second mortgage at 0% interest which is forgiven after fifteen (15) years if the home remains owner-occupied.
? In addition, the total first mortgage and Orange County’s second mortgage may not exceed 105% of appraised value.

Home Buyer’s Education Program

All participants requesting down payment assistance must attend a free Homeowners Education workshop. This provides education and technical services to assist eligible low and moderate income families in the process and procedure connected with the purchase of an affordable single family fee-simple housing unit. Homebuyers Education addresses such topics as choosing a realtor, qualifying for a mortgage, inspecting a house, contracts for sale, home maintenance and credit issues.

The Orange County Finance Authority is a government organization that provides mortgage financing with lower interest rates than what is available in the market. Their financing products reduce long-term mortgage costs. Plus, if eligible, you may obtain additional down payment/closing cost assistance from other sources along with this financing!

In order to qualify for home financing, certain eligibility requirements must be met:

? You have not had an ownership interest in a primary residence during the previous three years. (Unless the property is located in a federally designated “Targeted Area”.)
? Property must be owner-occupied for the term of the loan or until the property is sold.
? Have the legal right to permanently reside in the United States
? Meet credit and loan requirements
? Do not exceed the income & purchase price limit
? Veterans can waive First-Time Homebuyer Rule

City of Kissimmee Community Redevelopment Agency offers financial grants to new homeowners within the Community Redevelopment Agency district (CRA), in order to provide economic support to the downtown businesses. It is designed to attract new residents to targeted areas within the Community Redevelopment district. There will be no income limitations placed on the granting of these funds.

Funding will be granted based on establishment of owner occupancy of the subject property. The grants will be given on a first come, first served basis after certain qualifications have been met. The agency offers financial grants to eligible employees of employers in the CRA Overlay District on a first come, first served basis to be used towards the purchase of a home. Plus, there are incentives for Teachers to be used towards the purchase of a home in the CRA Overlay District on a first come, first served basis.

Osceola County provides funds to qualified first time homebuyers for downpayment, closing costs associated with purchasing a home, and financing with lower interest rates than what is available in the market. The program provides assistance to qualified low and moderate income persons in Osceola County on a first come, first ready basis. The program also requires that potential homebuyers complete an education program.

The buyer must:

? Not have owned a home in the last three years.
? Attend a Home Buyers Orientation Session and complete a Home Buyers Education Program.
? Have a minimum of $1,000 to contribute toward the costs of buying a home.
? Have an annual income that falls within the area median income guidelines as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additional terms may apply.

The property must:

? Must be located in Osceola County.
? New home or existing homes must not exceed $200,000. If within the City of Kissimmee homes must not exceed $240,000.
? No mobile homes.
? Manufactured homes must have DCA insignia seal.
? Must be a single family home, condominium, town home or villa.

The assistance:

? Maximum ranges from $39,000 to $69,000 depending on household income.
? The Loan is provided to the buyer’s closing agent at closing in the form of a soft second mortgage which is forgiven after ten (10) years if the home remains owner-occupied.

Repayment of the loan becomes due if:

? Borrower defaults on the first mortgage.
? The house is sold refinanced with equity cashed out.
? The house is rented, leased, subleased or ceases to be owner-occupied prior to the end of the loan period.
? No Home Equity Line of Credit borrowed against the property.

Home Buyer’s Education Program

All participants requesting down payment assistance must attend a free Homeowners Education workshop. This provides education and technical services to assist eligible low and moderate income families in the process and procedure connected with the purchase of an affordable single family fee-simple housing unit. Homebuyers Education addresses such topics as choosing a realtor, qualifying for a mortgage, inspecting a house, contracts for sale, home maintenance and credit issues.

SHIP Program (State Housing Initiative Partnership)

The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program provides funds to produce and preserve affordable housing through the creation of a partnership between the public and private sectors. The funds are derived from the collection of documentary stamp tax revenues, which are deposited into the Local Government Housing Trust Fund. Based on a population-based formula, SHIP funds are distributed to local governments each month.

These funds are available to Home Buyers through the Downpayment Assistance programs above.

Devinee Peraza
ABSOLUT REALTY INC.

About Us
Full-Time, Licensed Realtor® and Co-Owner of ABSOLUT REALTY INC. Devinee provides a wide range of services, including BUYER & SELLER REPRESENTATION, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, RENTAL-FINDING SERVICE, & MORTGAGE EDUCATION.

I have many combined years of sales experience; and an extensive local knowledge of the Central Florida area.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Professional Credentials

• Licensed Florida Real Estate Brokerage
• Member National Assoc. of Realtors®
• Member Florida Association of Realtors®
• Member Orlando Realtor® Association
• MLS™ Access (Multiple Listing Service)
• Graduate Realtor® Institute Certified
• Member of http://www.Realtor.com and the Florida Living Network (IDX)
• Licensed Florida Mortgage Broker
• Bonded Florida Notary Public

http://www.AbsolutRealty4u.com

Phone: 407-802-7585

It sounds way too good to be true and so much like every consumer’s dream that one has to wonder if it could really be true. Is there any loan that pays for an individual’s debts with no repayment necessary? Unfortunately, there is no such government program that provides grants for personal debt repayment or any program that provides money as debt consolidation loans to an individual.

Advertisements that promote guaranteed grants for paying off debts are often a scam. The Federal Trade Commission has warned about such advertisements, saying that grants are usually given by government or organizations for the betterment of the community, society or people at large. Though an individual may be in financial difficulty, no organization would be willing to dole out money to pay off all their credit card bills.

Any useful, applicable information on various Government grants can be had on the official web site www.grants.gov.

Bad Credit Debt Consolidation provides detailed information on bad credit debt consolidation, bad credit debt consolidation advice, bad credit debt consolidation grants, bad credit debt consolidation help and more. Bad Credit Debt Consolidation is affiliated with Non Profit Debt Consolidation Companies.

Before taking the plunge and becoming a homeowner, investigate the options in your local area to see if you can receive assistance with buying your first home. Many communities, counties and states in the US offer grants that can be used for a down payment and/or closing costs. The programs available to home buyers vary by state and usually specify that certain requirements be met before that buyer is approved for the program.

The first time home buyer programs usually include offering qualified applicants a “grant” (i.e., a certain amount of gift funds) that can be used for a down payment and/or closing costs. Some programs also offer qualified buyers a home loan or mortgage with a discounted interest rate.

Some first time home buyer grant program requirement examples are:

• Income Requirements – Many state grant programs specify that the buyers have a minimum income and/or a maximum income in order to qualify for the first time home buyer program.
• Targeted Areas – Many states offer special discounted interest rates and grant money to purchase a home in certain communities within the state. Sometimes these programs are available to non-first time home buyers to encourage home ownership in these communities.
• Cash Available – Some state programs indicate that the buyer must have a certain minimum of cash (“liquid assets”) available before the buyer is approved for the program. The reason for this is that they don’t want the buyer to have absolutely no cash available in case of hardship or for unplanned home repairs.
• Home Buyer Education – Some state programs require that applicants of their first time home buyer program attend a home ownership/home buying “seminar” to be certain the buyer is ready for the transition from being a renter to a home owner. Often times, these courses are available free of charge.

Be sure to review the programs available in your state or community before buying your first home. If there are money and resources available to you, take full advantage of them!

©Copyright – 2007. This article may only be distributed with permission from the author and links provided below.

The author is the publisher of http://www.buying-your-first-home.com. This website is a resource for all first time home buyers providing information on credit, fico scores, down payment money, obtaining government grants and much more. Information regarding first time home buyer state programs is available at http://www.buying-your-first-home.com/first-time-home-buyer-grants.html.