Benefits

About BLAZER HOME

The BLAZER HOME Neighborhood Living Initiative provides five-year grants up to $8,000 to be used for the down payment and/or closing costs for new purchases or renovations on an existing home in designated incentive zones in the Five Points, Glen Iris, and North and South Titusville neighborhoods. UAB will provide up to 10 grants per fiscal year. Annual funding for the program is renewed at the beginning of the Educational Foundation's fiscal year (July 1), and grants will be awarded until the annual funds have been disbursed.

Terms of Agreement

• Presentation of a purchase agreement (new homebuyers) or title (existing homebuyers) is required for any grant, which may only be used to purchase or renovate a single-family home, townhome or condominium within the zones set forth by this program.
• Employee-homeowner must commit to residing in the home for at least 60 months following the award of the grant or the University may reclaim a prorated portion of the grant award.*
• Employee-homeowner agrees to provide 60 months of continual service to UAB following the award of the grant concurrent with the minimum occupancy requirement or the University may reclaim a prorated* portion of the grant award.
• Assistance is limited to one award per household (up to $8,000) for the lifetime of the program.
• This home-ownership assistance grant is considered income to the employee and the employee-homeowner is responsible for any related income tax liability.  Form 1099-MISC will be sent to the employee each year during the 5-year term.
• First-time homebuyers must participate in the UAB Employee Assistance & Counseling Center's First-Time Homebuyer’s Course.
  
  

*Grant prorated over a 5-year period as follows:

Recipients are not required to repay any remaining balance of the grant as a result of the employee's death, retirement due to disability or termination due to reduction in staff.

Eligibility

In order to participate in the BLAZER HOME Neighborhood Living Initiative, applicant must meet the following criteria: Employee Eligibility Must be a full-time, benefits-eligible employee of UAB, UAB Hospital or UAB Hospital Management LLC Must be purchasing or renovating a primary residence in the incentive zone (see Property Eligibility) Must be qualified for a mortgage through an approved lender First-time homebuyers must participate in the UAB Employee Assistance & Counseling Center's First-Time Homebuyer’s Course. Property Eligibility Must be located in the geographical boundaries of the incentive zones in the Five Points, Glen Iris, North or South Titusville neighborhoods adjacent to campus (click map to expand) Must be a single-family home, townhome or condominium Must be owner-occupied by the employee for the five-year term of the grant
	⇨ Incentive Zones Map: Click to open in new tab. ⇨ This Google map can identify properties within the Blazer Home incentive zones. Click the search icon and enter the street address.

How to Apply

With just a few steps, full-time, benefits-eligible UAB, UAB Hospital and UAB Hospital Management, LLC employees can apply for assistance with the Blazer Home program to help with the purchase of a new home or renovation of an existing home within the designated incentive zone.

Blazer Home has been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will be reassessed during 2021 and updates will be communicated.

Step 1

Requesting a grant for the purchase of a new home:

• Research the designated neighborhoods and select a home anywhere within the incentive zone. Eligible properties must be the primary residence of the homebuyer, be occupied by the homebuyer, be located within the incentive zone, and must be a single-family home, townhouse or condominium.
• First time homebuyers must participate in the UAB Employee Assistance and Counseling Center’s First-Time Homebuyer’s Course.
• Begin process of buying home. A mortgage loan approval must be obtained prior to receiving a loan from the Program; pre-qualification by a lender is strongly encouraged prior to signing a contract of sale. A home inspection is also recommended.

Requesting a grant for the renovation of an existing home:

• Eligible properties must be the primary residence of the homebuyer, be occupied by the homebuyer, be located within the incentive zone, and must be a single-family home, townhouse or condominium.
• A scope/description of the renovation project, project budget and schedule must be included with the application.
  
  

Step 2

Once an Application is Complete

Search Land Bank Properties

The Birmingham Land Bank Authority strives to empower citizens of Birmingham to take charge of their neighborhoods in the battle against blighted, overgrown and abandoned properties. Through the BLBA General Request program, citizens can reclaim and renovate eligible tax-delinquent properties through the quiet title process to work towards achieving full ownership of properties.

Find an eligible property:

City Councilors

DISTRICT 3: Councilor Valerie Abbott

Crestwood North, Crestwood South, East Avondale, Five Points South (also part of District 5), Forest Park (also part of District 5), Glen Iris (also part of District 6), Highland Park, Redmont Park, South Avondale.

DISTRICT 6: Councilor Shelia Tyson

Arlington West End, Cooper Green Homes, Glen Iris (also part of District 3), Graymont (also part of District 5), Mason City, Loveman Village, North Titusville, Oakwood Place, Powderly (also part of District 7), Smithfield, South Titusville, West End Oark, Woodland Park.

Other Available Assistance

Other forms of financial assistance for homebuyers is available through lenders and government-issued grants and loans listed below. Eligibility varies by income, occupation and location. Use of any of these programs will not affect your ability to participate in UAB’s Blazer Home initiative. This list is not exhaustive, and more providers will be listed as information becomes available.

Down-payment Assistance

• Step Up: This down-payment assistance program from the Alabama Housing Finance Authority is available to participants who earn less than $97,300, regardless of household size or location.
• Neighborhood Lift: This down-payment assistance program from Birmingham Neighborhood Housing Services and WellsFargo provides eligible homebuyers with matching funds up to $7,500 in down-payment assistance on qualified properties in Jefferson County, Alabama.

Other Assistance

• Lecacy Credit Union: The official credit union of UAB is partnering with UAB to offer services including 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgages, Fixed Rate Conventional Financing and Construction/Renovation Lending.
• Good Neighbor Next Door: This program from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a 50 % discount on the list price of single-family homes in revitalization areas to law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Check the listings.
• Historic Homeowners Grant Program: Low to moderate income owners of historic homes in the City of Birmingham are eligible for up to $35,000 in grant money for exterior maintenance and repairs that are in keeping with the historic character of the property.
• FHA Section 203(k) Loans: This HUD program enables homebuyers and homeowners to finance both the purchase of a house and the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage or to finance the rehabilitation of their existing home.
• Mortgage Credit Certificate: MCCs provide a tax credit to reduce the amount of federal taxes owed by a percentage of the annual mortgage interest paid each year.