Buying a Home: Target Areas
There are advantages to buying a home in a target area. The Housing Finance Authority (HFA) typically offers home buying assistance to first-time home buyers and veterans. However, eligibility requirements are relaxed for buyers who purchase homes in target areas. The goal of the target area program is to promote economic diversity in the neighborhoods that need it most.
It is easier to qualify for HFA assistance if you purchase a home in a target area.
- You do not need to be a first-time home buyer.
- Income limits are higher for buyers.
- Buyers can purchase homes that are priced higher.
Target Area Maps
Neighborhoods are selected as target areas based on need. Current target areas include these 2010 census tracts:
- Pinellas County: census tracts 205, 208, 216, 245.01, 246.02, 247.03, 255.05, 262 and 268.18
- Pasco County: census tracts 304.10, 305.01, 308, 310.09, 314.08, 318.07, 324.02, 326.01, 330.09 and 330.12
- Polk County: census tracts 112.04, 114, 117.04, 120.02, 123.05, 131.03, 133, 134, 136, 139.01, 141.04, 143.01,154.05, 158.01 and 164
Find Your Census Tract
Follow these steps to determine whether a particular property is located in one of the census tracts listed above:
- Visit the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council website.
- Enter the address of the property in the search field near the top of the page, and click search.
- When the map loads, you will see a red dot on the property. Near the dot, you will see the blue census tract number for that property.