Understanding the Affordable Buyer Process
Inital tasks
Watch the Introduction Videos on this page
All applicants and co-applicants must individually take the quiz with a passing score
Register and attend the Orientation - all applicants and co-applicants - (Events Tab)
Carefully review the Application Guide and Program Restriction Documents (on this page)
Contact a Loan Officer registered with Housekeys and obtain a pre-approval (List is on the Downloads Tab)
Feeling lost? Attend an FAQ Session. To register click HERE
Register your Household’s Profile at https://www.myhousekeys.com/
At https://www.myhousekeys.com/ obtain an Application ID for the Program
All applicants and co-applicants must individually attend an online HUD approved First Time Home Buyer Education Class and provide a certificate of completion
Organize your application file at home and keep it updated (PDF forms below)
Review the Opportunity Drawing Notice information and follow the instructions (Home Buyer Opportunities Tab)
Use your Application ID to enter drawings at https://www.myhousekeys.com/
If you are selected after a drawing, we will send you an email with instructions requesting your file. You will have three (3) business days to submit a complete application file.
Note: This is a quick list and partial instructions; other requirements and processes apply.
introduction videos, orientation deck & Quiz
These 8 short videos will help you understand how affordable housing works, and key terminology. The Orientation Deck Slides explain the application process. After reviewing both the videos and slide deck(the slide deck is coming soon), take the Home Buyer Quiz. This should all be done before applying for any Ownership programs. Please check the “Online Forms” tab above to find the registration link for the next mandatory Ownership Orientation Webinar.
MyHouseKeys
MyHouseKeys is our web-based software platform created to help you manage your program relationships, find housing opportunities, and navigate the application process. You start by registering your household profile.
profile Registration Process
When you click on the button to “Register Your Profile, you’ll begin with a quick sign up form that asks: Name, Number of Household Members, Total Household Income, and Zip Code. After you enter and confirm your email address, you will start a Registration Wizard that will have you complete a series of forms. You may want to set aside an hour to complete all of the online forms. These forms include:
Admin Profile - this is the basic information and address for the primary applicant.
Member Profiles - all other household members who will be occupying the housing unit
Income Profile - you’ll identify the type of income that you earn, information about your employer, and your employment details
Household Preference - this form details any special criteria that your household may meet that would allow you to receive preferential treatment among other applicants.
Household Demographics - this is an optional form that allows us to track our Fair Housing statistics
At the end of the process, you’ll get to a page called the Household Overview. This page summarizes all of the information you entered and gives you a chance to review before finalizing.
Program Application & Checklist
Click on the link below to access and download:
Application Exhibits
Application Exhibits are special documents that help provide further details about items that you provided while completing the Program Application and gathering items on the Application Checklist. Click on the links below to open the Exhibit documents.
Program Guides
Buyer Guide / For Applicants: Below Market Rate Housing Guidelines - Effective 7/1/2022
As an applicant, you must complete the steps to create a household profile, obtain an Application I.D. and enter Drawings for the housing opportunity you want. Each housing opportunity is given an Opportunity ID. If you are chosen in the Drawing, then you will submit a full file to be processed and underwritten and the rules are outlined in this guide.
Owner’s Guide / For Participants (Coming Soon)
Once you are a homeowner, you sign a__-year Restriction Agreement that details what you are allowed to do with the home. While the Restriction Agreement on this site is the latest version, there have been many different versions used over the past years. The Participation Guide walks through some of the rules on refinancing, re-selling the home, and transfers for inheritance. Please keep in mind that your signed Restriction Agreement is the governing document that ultimately determines what you’re allowed to do.
City of HouseKeys Affordable Ownership Information
