> What is “UNPA”?

> What are the conditions of UNPA mortgage assistance?

> How much assistance can I expect?

> Do I have to pay it back?

> What is the “UNPA Target Area”?

> Where does UNPA’s funding come from?

> Where can I go for help in funding home improvements?

> What is the Syracuse University Guaranteed Mortgage Program?

> How does that program work?

> What do I need to submit to UNPA to be considered for the program?

What is “UNPA”?

The University Neighborhood Preservation Association was incorporated in 1990 in response to a housing dilemma confronting the area surrounding Syracuse University. UNPA is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization.
The purpose of UNPA is to help potential home buyers get into a house they want to live in, in the University Neighborhood. UNPA helps with closing costs in most situations. UNPA’s success in bringing homeowners and stability to the area has garnered praise from elected officials, “UNPA has definitely been a benefit to the University area in bringing homes that were once divided back into owner-occupancy status.”

“UNPA has been effective in bringing homeowners to the area adjacent to the University”, says Vito Sciscioli, former Director of Development for the City of Syracuse. “Some of the blocks where UNPA has concentrated its effort show a marked impact.”

Members of neighborhood groups have witnessed the improvement to area since UNPA began its work. “We love UNPA,” said Judy Schmid of SEUNA (South East University Neighborhood Association). “We are thrilled at the successes they have brought to the neighborhood. What UNPA has done is to put together a really nice package with banks — and with the backing of the City and the University — to encourage people to live in our neighborhood, in the City, rather than look to suburbia.”



What are the conditions of UNPA mortgage assistance?

UNPA promotes owner occupancy of one-, two-, and three-family homes in the University Neighborhood. Depending on the availability of funds, the UNPA grant is applied to closing costs, prepaids, and/or down payments as allowed by the first mortgage lender.



How much assistance can I expect?

There are no restrictions on income or price of the house to quality for the grant. The only requirement is location and owner-occupancy. There are also categories of granting that determine the amount of the grant (i.e. , two-and three-family status, former rental or foreclosed property, property “at risk”, location of the property in the Target Area).



Do I have to pay it back?

The grant is legally recorded as a “second mortgage” and has a “due-on-sale” or “recapture agreement” should the buyer move or sell within 10 years of ownership. In other words, if the owner moves or sells within the first five years, the grant has to be repaid 100%. From Years 6 through 10, the amount of the payback decreases 20% a year until Year 10 when it is completely forgiven.



What is the “UNPA Target Area”?

An UNPA “grant” is given to the buyer of a home in the University Neighborhood Target Area: east and west from Comstock to Cumberland Avenue, north and south from East Genesee to East Colvin Streets. For a more detailed view of the University Neighborhood, please click here to see the UNPA Target Area map.



Where does UNPA’s funding come from?

In 1993, SU and the City entered into an agreement (Ordinance 553) requiring SU to pay a fee of $250,000 annually to fund services addressing students’ impact on neighborhoods southeast of the SU Campus. Increasing each year with the Consumer Price Index, the fee in 2004-2005 was $318,500,bringing SU’s contribution to more than $3 million. By 2013, SU will have contributed over $6.5 million to these neighborhood districts.

Between the 1970s and 1980s, SU’s monumental growth led to changes in residential neighborhoods southeast of campus. In 1989, local residents began requesting compensation for the effects of rapid population growth. Following lengthy discussions among SU, City and affected residents, City Ordinances 553 and 554 established both the Service Agreement and the rules regarding distribution of these monies. In 1993, the Service Agreement was officially signed, requiring an annual payment described above for the purposes of maintaining the “health, safety and welfare of the University neighborhood, such as police and fire protection, code enforcement, neighborhood organization support, and park and public area improvements.” The signed ordinances also established UNSAAC (University Neighborhood Service Agreement Advisory Committee) to oversee distribution of funds. The purpose of the Committee is to solicit proposals from non-profit agencies in the special neighborhood district located southeast of the University and to allocate money based on the guidelines of the ordinance – to promote the health, safety and welfare of the University neighborhood.




Where can I go for help in funding home improvements?

To improve the housing stock in the University Neighborhood, UNPA has been actively engaged in networking with other local organizations. Although UNPA no longer grants home improvement loans, thanks to the cooperative effort of University Hill Corporation, Housing Visions Unlimited, East Side Neighbors in Partnership, Home Headquarters (Syracuse Neighborhood Housing Services Model Neighborhood Corporation), Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union, and Empire Housing, positive changes have taken place in the University Neighborhood.



What is the Syracuse University Guaranteed Mortgage Program?

UNPA’s success has been enhanced by Syracuse University’s own mortgage program to encourage home ownership in the surrounding neighborhood.



How does that program work?

Through the cooperation of local banks, eligible employees can obtain 100 percent financing for the purchase of a home in the designated neighborhood. Syracuse University guarantees the mortgage. The program encourages University faculty and staff to choose the East Neighborhood for their residence. The goal is to ensure the vibrancy and stability of an important part of the City adjacent to the Campus.
University faculty and staff who would like to learn more about the program may visit http://syr.edu/real_estate, or contact the University’s Real Estate Services Office at mawilcox@syr.edu, or (315) 443-2104.

What do I need to submit to UNPA to be considered for the program?
 
Before being considered for the program, you must find a property located within the UNPA Target Area, submit a copy of the signed purchase contract for the same property as well as copies of the mortgage commitment and good faith estimate (received from your mortgage company).