Section 8 Housing and HUD Homes
Comparing Section 8 Housing and HUD Homes
The Section 8 housing program is one of the most popular ways low-earning families can afford to rent quality homes. Local public housing agencies (PHAs) are responsible for distributing funds to households that qualify to enroll. PHAs receive their funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For this reason, many individuals confuse Section 8 with the HUD homes program. While these two initiatives may seem similar, they are very different and offer diverse benefits to recipients.
Additionally, you need to remember that the process for obtaining homes through HUD housing vs Section 8 are different. Therefore, it is important that you understand how these programs function and whether you qualify for them. Purchasing or renting a home is a big decision. Make sure you have all the information you need to properly decide if you should find Section 8 houses for rent or HUD homes for sale.
Purposes of HUD Homes and Section 8 Housing
The Section 8 homes for rent program serves a different purpose than the HUD homes initiative. For example, Section 8 is designed to provide low-earning households with financial assistance so they can afford to live in safe, clean homes. On the other hand, HUD homes are simply foreclosed properties that HUD purchased at low prices. In turn, households with enough funds can purchase these properties at below-market rates.
How to Get Section 8 Housing vs HUD Homes
Not everyone qualifies to obtain Section 8 rentals. In fact, this program is only available to low-earning families. This means that households need to take part in a rigorous application process before they can receive benefits. Furthermore, this process is extremely competitive. Even if families qualify for benefits, they may not be able to access Section 8 rentals for a while. This is because PHAs only have a limited amount of funds they can distribute. If more individuals qualify for benefits than the PHA has to distribute, a waitlist is formed. Households can spend weeks or months on these waitlists until funds become available that they can use.
Buying a HUD home, on the other hand, is theoretically simpler than getting Section 8. This is because there are fewer requirements for obtaining one of these properties. In order to buy HUD foreclosed homes, individuals only need to have the cash necessary to purchase these properties. If they do not have the funds available, they could still purchase the homes if they qualify for sufficient loans.
Section 8 Apartments for Rent and HUD Homes to Buy
When comparing homes owned by HUD vs Section 8 housing vouchers, another major difference is what enrollees obtain through these programs. Most often, candidates who receive Section 8 benefits are able to rent apartments or houses. In many cases, these individuals do not become owners of these properties by enrolling in this program. On the contrary, individuals with sufficient funds may begin the process of buying a HUD home. Therefore, households should analyze their finances and long-term home ownership goals when choosing the specific program that is right for them.