Received orders and need to sell?

Homeowners’ Assistance Program

The Department of Defense released guidelines last week for a $555 million program designed for Military homeowners who must sell their homes for a loss after receiving transfer orders, wounded who need to move for medical reasons, surviving spouses of those killed in action or DoD personnel suddenly ordered to relocate. The program is also available to the widows of DoD civilian employees killed in the line of duty. It builds on a program to help homeowners near military bases being closed.

The department could reimburse you for part of your loss from selling your home; assist you, if you don’t have funds from the sale of your home to pay-off your mortgage; purchase your home by paying off the mortgage; or help, if you default on your mortgage.

For an overview and specific information on the benefits go to DoD’s Homeowners’ Assistance Program Benefits Overview page.

Who is Eligible?

The law provides some monetary relief to eligible service member (including Coast Guard) and federal employee homeowners who suffer financial loss on the sale of their primary residences when a base closure or realignment announcement causes a decline in the residential real estate market and they are not able to sell their homes under reasonable terms or conditions.

Homeowner Assistance Program and American Recovery Reinvestment Act

The HAP program has been expanded to include BRAC ’05 personnel, Warriors in Transition or Surviving Spouse, and Permanent Change of Station (PCS). There are specific eligibility requirements and some of the benefits are temporary.

The reason for the expansion of the program, according to the HAP website:

The program was temporarily expanded to assist three major service member homeowner groups whose medical or professional situations require them to sell their primary residences and relocate beyond a normal commuting distance. The intended beneficiaries are homeowners who cannot ‘ride out’ the depressed real estate markets until their home values can recover-they are moving because of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order, or they are moving because of an injury or death of a service member spouse.

How Do I Apply or Where Do I Get More Information on Eligibility?

To apply, go to DoD’s Homeowners’ Assistance Program application page for the application package and a checklist of items you will need to include in your package.

Not sure if you’re eligible or need additional information? Go to DoD’s Homeowners’ Assistance Program eligibility page. They’ve included a fairly comprehensive set of FAQ’s that should address any concerns or questions you might have. If you have additional questions or need more information beyond the FAQ’s, go to their Contact Page and select the appropriate region to contact the HAP field office that covers the territory in which your property resides.