Homeownership

 

Affordable Homeownership

Ontario Renovates Program

The Ontario Renovates Program provides up to $25,000 in forgivable loan assistance to low and moderate-income households to assist them in performing eligible major repairs, renovations and accessibility modifications to their homes. This program exclusively serves homeowners.

Eligible Households


Eligible households must meet a list of criteria, which includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Be at least 18 years old and a Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant
  • Own a home in the District of Nipissing that serves as the household’s sole and principle residence
  • Have an annual gross household income of $87,000.00 or less (including the applicant, spouse and anyone over the age of 18 living in the home and not attending school full-time)
  • Total assets including savings and investments cannot exceed $50,000.00

Eligible Homes


Eligible homes for the program can be detached, semi-detached or a townhouse.
Homes must:
  • Be in the District of Nipissing and serve as the household’s sole and principal residence
  • Not be rented or leased in any part
  • Be valued at $393,752.00 or less as per the most recent Property Assessment
  • Not encumbered by a second mortgage or liens, unless there is sufficient equity in the home

Eligible Repairs


Qualifying renovations must generally fall under one of the following categories: Accessibility, Energy Efficiency or Safety. 

Eligible Repairs may Include:
  • structural
  • electrical
  • plumbing
  • heating
  • septic systems
  • windows
  • doors
  • siding
  • roofs
  • insulation
  • decks
  • improved accessibility
  • fire safety and other safety-related features that help individuals stay in their homes

 

Loan Details


The loan is structured as an interest-free lien on the property or mortgage. 10% of the loan is forgiven per year and it is fully forgiven after 10 years with no requirement for repayment.


How to Apply


In order to apply for the Ontario Renovates Program, you first need to be put on the wait-list. When the funding is available and you're next on the wait-list, you will be sent an application.
To be put on the wait-list, please reach out to our Ontario Renovates Program Administrators.


Contact Information


District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board
Housing Services - Ontario Renovates Program
200 McIntyre Street East,
North Bay, ON, P1B 8V6
Phone: 705-474-2151 Ext.45587
Email: DNSSAB.Renovates@dnssab.ca

Homeownership Program


The Homeownership Program provides down payment assistance to eligible households through federal/provincial funding. This assistance is in the form of a 20-year forgivable loan.

Eligible Households


Eligible households must meet a list of criteria, which includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Be at least 18 years old and a Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant
  • Not own or have interests in any property
  • Have an annual gross household income of:
    • $87,000 or less for single/lone households
    • $106,000 or less for family households (including the applicant, spouse and anyone over the age of 18 living in the home and not attending school full-time)
  • Total assets including savings and investments cannot exceed $50,000.00


Eligible Homes


Eligible homes for the program include:
  • detached homes
  • semi-detached homes
  • condominiums
  • stacked homes
  • row/townhouses
Homes must be in the District of Nipissing, serve as the household’s sole and principal residence and be valued at $393,752 or less.


Loan Details


The loan is 10% of the purchase price of a home. If the home remains your sole and principle residence, the loan is fully forgiven after 20 years and there is no requirement for repayment.

How to Apply


In order to apply for the Homeownership Program, you first need to be put on the wait-list. When the funding is available and you're next on the wait-list, you will be sent an application.

To be put on the wait-list, please reach out to our Homeownership Program Administrators.


Contact Information

District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board
Housing Services - Homeownership Program
200 McIntyre Street East,
North Bay, ON, P1B 8V6
Phone: 705-474-2151 Ext.45587
Email: DNSSAB.Renovates@dnssab.ca

FAQs

Frequentley Asked Questions:

The following are examples of potential eligible and ineligible repairs under the Ontario Renovates Program:

Eligible Repairs

  • Structural (foundations, roofs, walls, floors)
  • Electrical Systems
  • Plumbing
  • Heating and Energy Conservation Systems
  • Accessibility for the Disabled (includes ramps and interior renovations)
  • Secondary Dwellings (additional approvals are required)
    Safety-related additions/renovations (fire alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon mono/dioxide detectors)

Ineligible Repairs

  • Renovations that are for cosmetic reasons
  • Repair projects that have already started prior to applying for Ontario Renovates
  • Landscaping

Applicants who receive assistance under the program must obtain three written quotes prior
to commencing repairs or renovations. DNSSAB will select the most appropriate contractor(s)
based on the quotes provided.

  • Quotes must be submitted to the DNSSAB prior to the start of any work
  • Repairs and renovations that are underway prior to approvals are not eligible for funding
  • All work must be performed by a licensed contractor with a registered business number, WSIB and liability insurance coverage and a municipal business license

Along with a completed application form, applicants are required to submit the following in

order to be considered for the program:

  • Two pieces of photo identification
  • Copy of a birth certificate or citizenship document for each homeowner
  • Copy of the most recent Notice of Assessment from CRA for each household member over the age of 18
  • Verification of current income for each household member over the age of 18
  • Copy of recent Property Assessment Notice issued by MPAC or other approved property assessment groups including mortgage brokers or banks
  • Copy of current home insurance policy
  • Copy or verification that the mortgage is in good standing from the lending institution
  • Copy of proof of ownership (deed or registration)
  • Copy of current tax report or letter from municipality stating there are no tax arrears

 

 

If you still have questions regarding the Ontario Renovates Program, please email DNSSAB.Renovates@dnssab.ca or call 705-474-2151 Ext. 45587

Frequentley Asked Questions:

To apply for the Homeownership Program you must first contact us to be added to the waiting list.

Once you have reached the top of the waiting list and program funds are available, you will be asked to complete an application package. The application package will outline all required documentation to be submitted including, but not limited to, Notice of Assessments for all members of the household, copies of photo identification, and a mortgage pre-approval.

To be eligible for the Homeownership Program, you must be renting in the private market or in social housing for a minimum of 1 year consecutively. You will be asked to provide documentation proving that you have been renting for at least 1 year consecutively.

Repayment of the original down payment contribution must be made if the following situations occur while the OPHI Homeownership loan is outstanding (20-Year Forgivable Loan):

  • The unit is sold or leased.
  • The unit is no longer the sole and principal residence of the loan recipient.
  • The loan recipient becomes bankrupt or insolvent.
  • The loan recipient misrepresented their eligibility for the program.
  • The loan recipient used the proceeds of the loan for a purpose other than the acquisition of the unit.
  • The death of the loan recipient.

Traditional interest will not be charged on the down-payment assistance.

 

The original loan amount and the percentage share of the realized capital gains proportionate to the down payment assistance must be repaid in the above cases. For example, if the purchaser was assisted with ten percent of the purchase price, the loan amount plus ten percent of any capital gains/appreciation would have to be repaid.

 

If a unit is sold for less than the original purchase price, the difference between the down payment assistance and the depreciated amount will be repayable.

  • Amount payable = Loan – (original purchase price – resale price)