PURCHASE & OWNERSHIP

Acquisition and Rehabilitation Revolving Fund - the City, Merced Housing Texas and the San Antonio Conservation Society have partnered to rehabilitate and sell locally designated historic houses to low to moderate income buyers.

City of San Antonio Housing Programs - home buyer education and assistance programs.

Historic House Rescue List (scroll to bottom of linked page) – for people who want to sell or buy historic houses in need of repair or relocation.

Local Tax Exemption
for Owner-Occupied Residences in New Historic Districts

All residential properties occupied by the property owner in newly designated local historic districts at the time of designation receive a 20% exemption on their City property taxes for 10 years. The exemption can be extended for an additional five (5) years for a total of 15 years for owners who remain in the same house for the entire period of the exemption.

Merced Housing Texas
– provides homeownership opportunities to low income families in inner city neighborhoods.

San Antonio Alternative Housing
– promotes affordable housing to low and moderate income families, provides housing education and ownership counseling.

San Antonio Neighborhood Housing Services
– lending resource center and homeowner education.

REHABILITATION & MAINTENANCE
Advice

Design Consultation
– free guidance provided by the City’s Office of Historic Preservation for proposed rehabilitation, new construction, and other projects.

Historic Homeowner Fair (held annually)
- This free event brings homeowners together with preservation experts, knowledgeable tradesmen, and City departments to discuss how to care for and maintain historic homes.

Preservation Briefs
– online guidance for preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings.

Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation
- used by the City to evaluate proposed projects on individual landmarks and properties in historic districts; also used to determine if a rehabilitation qualifies as a Certified Rehabilitation for Federal tax purposes.

Financial Help

Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit
- administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service in partnership with the Texas Historical Commission. The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program preserves historic buildings, stimulates private investment, creates jobs, and revitalizes communities. It has leveraged over $58 billion in private investment to preserve and reuse 37,000 historic properties since 1976.

Fuller Center for Housing
- homeowners in need can apply to a Fuller Center covenant partner to have their homes restored to a simple, decent living condition. Once repairs are complete, The Fuller Center works with each homeowner to help them structure an affordable repayment plan.

Local Tax Exemption for Substantial Rehabilitation
- A tax exemption is available for designated local landmarks and properties within local historic districts that undergo a substantial rehabilitation. Substantial rehabilitation includes improvements that extend the life of a building such as roof, foundation, and siding work; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC system work; other structural work; and interior work. Following substantial rehabilitation of residential properties, City property taxes are frozen at the assessed value prior to rehabilitation for up to 10 years. Substantially rehabilitated commercial properties are eligible for the 5 Zero/5 Fifty tax exemption: no City property taxes are owed for the first five (5) years, and for the next five (5) years the City taxes are assessed at 50% of a post-rehabilitation appraisal. The tax exemption for substantial rehabilitation remains with the property regardless of change of ownership or sale of the property.

Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Program
(in partnership with the City’s Housing and Neighborhood Services Department – a combination of loans and grants)

The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Program, is offered in partnership with the City's Housing and Neighborhood Services Department, to help low to moderate-income historic property owners. The purpose of this program is to promote and encourage the retention, preservation and restoration of locally-designated historic homes. The program will assist property owners with their restoration and rehabilitation projects through a combination of loans and grants. Some requirements include:

• Property must be located within the City limits;
• Structure must be an owner-occupied, residential building;
• Property must be located within a local historic district, designated as a local landmark, or eligible for historic designation; and
• Program income limits apply.

San Antonio Conservation Society Grant Program
- grants are awarded annually for the restoration or rehabilitation of houses that are at least 50 years old. The most commonly granted amount is in the $5,000 range, which can be used towards exterior work that is not yet underway. The deadline to apply is in September with notifications in December. Please see the application form for more information.