Sir/Ma'am,
I the attached letter from your office today regarding documents that are still needed to process the application and I have some very big concerns that I hope you can address.
1) Pg 3 (Documents needed): HOME IMPROVMENTS: According to the guide on the receipts, I can use a credit card statement but it needs to be itemized:
"Credit card statements showing a payment to Lowes, Home Depot, or other home improvement businesses or suppliers will not be approved as benefits for this program if there are no descriptions identifiable as valid home improvement items or services."
Is a list provided by me and handwritten on the receipt satisfactory? I don't have a legible receipt that I know of that provides the information on all the improvements.
2) Pg 3 (Documents needed): PROOF, ATTEMPT TO SELL and MORTGAGE VERIFICATION FORM
I have not sold the home yet, but am in an arrangement to sell the home on 1FEB2012 under a Lease to Own Purchase Contract. The tenant/buyer isn't required to apply for a home loan until 30 days prior (approx 1JAN2012) IAW the purchase contract that I submitted with the initial HAP application. You should have it in the records. If you don't please let me know.
Because of this, I will NOT be able to get these documents into you within your requested 20 days. If the buyer/tenant reneges on the purchase agreement, I plan to list the home on the market on 1FEB2012. What happens to my ability to utilize the HAP?
3) Pg 2, first paragraph, first sentence: "Once the opinion of value is complete, it will be reviewed to determine if you are eligible for benefits."
Do I need to sell the home before learning if I'd be eligible? If so, and I'm denied benefits, I have taken a double loss: The loss of the property and the loss of the capital. I cannot foresee taking ANOTHER gamble on selling the home just to find out that I'm not eligible for benefits.
4) Pg 2, first paragraph, last sentence: "Please note any benefit payment will be subject to availability of funds."
What is the current availability of funds? If I'm approved for benefits, but the funds aren't there, I'm plum out of luck? This, like my previous question, would mean that I'm gambling on the current state of the US Government's ability to pay the benefits. Am I reading that right?
5) If my buyer reneges on his contract to buy on 1FEB2012, I cannot afford to sell the home and then be denied benefits or be approved benefits only to never receive them because the funds are unavailable. I have to ask if there is any other way that we can apply for benefits without selling the home to a private owner or know if I'd be eligible BEFORE I have to sell the home?