Homeowner Program
How Do I Qualify for the Loan?
The following questions provide you with a framework to qualify for our program. Please contact a CRS staff person for a more detailed evaluation.
- Is your home located in a participating city?
- Was your home constructed prior to 1961? The CRS uses the baseline qualification that a property must be at least 50 years old to qualify for the program.
- The structure can be owner or non-owner occupied.
- Is your property exclusively residential? To qualify for the loan program, properties cannot be mixed-use with both residential and commercial components; they must be zoned exclusively residential. For rental properties, the property must be 3 units or less to participate in the program.
- Does your home have vinyl or aluminum siding over the original wood or brick exterior? Application of synthetic siding typically compromises the architectural and structural integrity of a historic home. If you are willing to remove synthetic materials, then your house will qualify for the loan.
- Does your home have vinyl replacement windows? The installation of vinyl replacement windows may disqualify your home. However, you may participate in the program by removing vinyl windows on a primary facade(s) and re-installing appropriate window types.
- Has your project already begun? Any work that has already started or been paid for cannot be financed. The Heritage Home loan cannot be used to refinance existing mortgages.
- Houses that may have been updated with vinyl siding and/or windows still qualify for free technical assistance, though they are ineligible for the loan.
For more information contact the Cleveland Restoration Society Heritage Home Program:
heritagehomeprogram@clevelandrestoration.org
p: (216) 426-1000
