USDA Wednesday announced it is launching two pilot programs to increase affordable homeownership opportunities for people on Tribal lands.
USDA Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Roger Glendenning says, “The assistance I’m announcing today will help people across this nation have the resources they need to build, purchase or repair homes in Tribal communities.” USDA is launching the Tribal Property Valuation Pilot Program. It provides approved lenders the opportunity to obtain desktop appraisals for mortgage transactions on Tribal land.
This program will help decrease the cost and eliminate potential inaccuracies of appraisal reports completed on properties located on Tribal land. The Department is also launching the Tribal Rehabilitation Pilot Program to help people remain in safe and improved housing on Tribal lands and improve their quality of life. Many homes on Tribal lands have been passed on from one generation to the next and need renovations to make them safe and bring them up to current codes.
Funds under this program may be used to finance repairs to these homes.