Help with home repairs in Minnesota

As this weekend's storms that damaged or destroyed entire towns in Illinois and Indiana have proven, the weather in the upper Midwest can be brutal on our homes.  But even if you haven't experienced devastating storm damage, every home will eventually need repairs and major systems (furnace, roof, etc.) will require replacement.  Informed consumers who take the Center's homebuyer education course, Home Stretch™, or our online version, Framework®, understand that owners should strive to save 1-2% of a home's purchase price EVERY YEAR for future maintenance.

At the Minnesota Homeownership Center, we understand that setting aside funds for future maintenance can be difficult and sometimes repairs or maintenance of major systems can occur unexpectedly.  For that reason, every quarter the Center produces a Home Rehab/Repair Matrix that helps homeowners identify home repair and rehab programs throughout Minnesota that can help with emergency repair, energy efficiency, lead hazard abatement and other general repairs.  Some of these programs are outright grants that cover the cost of the repair/rehab while others are loans, usually with below-market interest rates.  Most of the programs are designed for low- to moderate-income homeowners and have income limits.

The most recent version of the Home Rehab / Repair Matrix is now available and contains information on dozens of programs that can help Minnesota homeowners with repairs or maintenance on their homes.  

For a copy of the complete Home Rehab / Repair Matrix, as well as additional information for homeowners, visit the Center's website, here.

Healthy Homes And Communities

Many times when people discuss the benefits of homeownership, those benefits are focused on purely financial benefits like savings and wealth creation.  While it's true that an investment in homeownership has traditionally been one of the primary strategies for long-term wealth building, especially for low- to moderate-income Americans, there are other non-financial benefits to successful homeownership.  

One of the lesser-known benefits is the positive link between owning and improved health  and well-being.  When compared to renters of similar socio-economic levels, homeowners have better physical health levels, lower child injury rates and higher self-esteem and improved mental health and lower blood pressure.  (If you're interested in digging deeper into the research behind these claims, you can start here and here).   

But what about the relationship between healthy homes and healthy families?  

An upcoming assembly of housing and health professionals, policymakers and community leaders seeks to delve deeper into the critical connections between health and the places we live, help break down health and housing silos, and improve cooperation among these disparate professions through improved network connections and cross-sector collaborations.

Known as the Healthy Homes and Communities Statewide Convening 2013, the upcoming event includes a keynote address by eco-entrepreneur and community revitalization strategist Majora Carter and workshop sessions that will highlight successful local healthy housing and communities initiatives and programs.  

Healthy Homes and Communities Statewide Convening 2013

Tuesday, October 01, 2013 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

The Depot

225 South 3rd Avenue

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

For additional information about the Statewide Convening, contact Shawna Lynn Nelsen: shawna@fhfund.org.

If you, or someone you know, would like additional information on the benefits (and costs) of homeownership and how YOU can benefit by becoming a successful homeowner, contact a Homeownership Advisor today.