Complementing our neighborhood improvement efforts are our housing initiatives. The City of Aiken is working hard to stabilize and expand the City’s affordable housing stock. We have many ways to help you buy a home or upgrade your existing home.
Want to buy a home?
- Credit Issues
If you are thinking about buying a home, or about to make any purchase involving credit, you will want to pull your credit report to make certain everything is in order. The City of Aiken works very closely with an area bank, Security Federal, to help establish or repair credit. Call us at (803) 642-7722 or (803) 642-7723 to find out more about our credit repair programs. - Homeownership Classes
Free home buyer classes are available to prepare you for home ownership. You’ll learn the value of credit, how to manage your money, selecting the right house for you, your legal rights, working with banks, and home maintenance and repairs. In order to purchase a new home through the program, you must attend one of the home buyer classes. - Apply to Purchase a Home
The City of Aiken offers a homeownership program for families that want to buy a home but are not exactly sure where and how to begin. Our goal is to take the confusion and uncertainty out of the home buying process, including the financial planning that goes with it. Whatever your concerns about buying a home, we want to help you feel more confident as you undertake what will probably be the largest purchase of your life.
Already own a home?
- Emergency Repair
Funds for this program are a grant from the City to Owner. The City grants these funds for emergency repairs, made available through the Community Development Block Grant Program to income eligible homeowners, for required emergency home repairs. This program is not intended for major renovations; it is for documented emergency repairs only. For more information, please contact your City of Aiken Community and Development Planner or call (803) 642-7606. The City of Aiken operates a Porch Light Replacement Program for the purpose of improving lighting in targeted northside neighborhoods to improve safety by discouraging crime and encourage neighbors to look out for one another. Under this program, persons who own their homes may qualify for a grant to have a solar sensitive porch light installed under the guidelines of the program. Contact the Neighborhood Coordinator or call (803) 642-7780 for more information. - Special assistance is available for low-to moderate-income families whose annual household income is less than 80%of the area median income. Through the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, the City of Aiken is able to provide qualified buyers with down payment and closing cost assistance. We are often able to provide below rate mortgage financing through the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority. Our goal is to keep your monthly payment as low as possible.
The City has completed the development of two neighborhoods on the Northside: Chesterfield North and Asheton Oaks.
The City of Aiken has worked with the neighbors in both of these areas to bring new affordable housing and infrastructure upgrades to their neighborhood. Thirty-four homes have been built and sold in these new subdivisions.
The Toole Hill neighborhood comprises roughly 15 blocks on the north-western boundary of Old Aiken, and is herein defined as the area bounded by Hampton Avenue to the north, Edgefield Avenue to the south, Church Street/Perrin Street to the west and Florence Street to the east. Development in this area began in the early 20th century and incorporation into the City of Aiken in phases began about 1925. Over the years the neighborhood had declined to the point today where approximately 50% of the area was vacant lots where homes once stood and many of the existing homes in some stage of disrepair.
Working closely with the Toole Hill Neighborhood Association, a Northside Housing Plan, Phase I was developed which calls for 30 or more new homes to be built in a concentrated area, to create a critical mass for complete neighborhood revitalization. Compatible architectural designs were developed. The intent is to spur additional housing in the future created through private investment.
Several partnerships have been developed which have helped create early success. Community Development Investment Corporation (CDIC) is building 13 rental homes in the initial target area. Aiken Corporation is building 10 new homes for sale to low and moderate income buyers. Security Federal is providing counselling services and financing to many buyers. Several area churches to include First Baptist of Aiken, New Covenant Presbyterian Church adopted an existing home and completed a “facelift” on 7 existing homes. Both Homeworks and World Changers brought their youth to Toole Hill to complete roof and other exterior repairs to existing homes. The City of Aiken has installed new sidewalks and street lights to complete the transformation.
Available for sale are eight different – one, two, three, and four bedroom designs. Low to no maintenance principals have been incorporated into the homes design.
To learn more about how your can buy a home in Toole Hill, contact our Housing Counselor.