S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3068
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 23, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and
Community Development
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to subsi-
dizing closing costs for low income tenants who are purchasing a home
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The private housing finance law is amended by adding a new
section 615 to read as follows:
§ 615. TENANT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP INITIATIVE. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION, "LOW INCOME OR RENT SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT" SHALL MEAN AN APART-
MENT IN WHICH THE TENANT'S HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVEL QUALIFIES THEM TO
RECEIVE STATE FUNDS USED TOWARDS THE MONTHLY AMOUNT OF RENT OWED.
2. THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL SHALL CREATE THE
PROCESS, ACCESS THE APPLICATIONS, DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS AND PROVIDE ANY
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS FOR THE TENANT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP INITI-
ATIVE. THE STATE SHALL SUBSIDIZE A PORTION OF THE CLOSING COSTS
REQUIRED OF ANY BUYER WHO IS PURCHASING A HOME LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE
IF THEY SHALL MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
(A) THE BUYER HAS BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE STATE FOR FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO
ENTERING INTO A PURCHASE CONTRACT TO BUY A HOME; AND
(B) THE BUYER HAS BEEN A TENANT OF A PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT OR IN A
LOW INCOME OR RENT SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF SUCH FIVE
YEAR PERIOD.
3. IF A BUYER MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION, THE STATE SHALL SUBSIDIZE THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS FOR SUCH BUYER
TO BE USED TOWARDS SUCH CLOSING COSTS:
(A) ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS IF SUCH BUYER HAS RESIDED IN A PUBLIC HOUSING
PROJECT; OR
(B) FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IF SUCH BUYER HAS RESIDED IN A LOW INCOME OR
RENT SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT UNIT.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05925-01-5
S. 3068 2
4. THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY ONLY TO BUYERS WHO RECEIVE APPROVAL AND
ARE FINANCING SUCH PURCHASE WITH A CONVENTIONAL OR FEDERAL HOUSING
ADMINISTRATION (FHA) LOAN.
5. THE STATE SHALL CLAW BACK ANY SUBSIDIZED AMOUNT PROVIDED TO ANY
BUYER WHO QUALIFIED AND RECEIVED SUCH SUBSIDIZED AMOUNT FROM THE STATE
UNDER THIS SECTION IF SUCH BUYER SELLS OR TRANSFERS THE TITLE OF THE
SUBJECT PROPERTY WITHIN A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF CLOS-
ING.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.