Start-to-Home Program
Your pathway to homeownership starts here.
Now accepting applications
Building Homes. Creating Homeowners. Strengthening Our Community.
The North Port St. Joe Community Development Corporation (NPSJ CDC) Start-to-Home Program helps eligible individuals and families pursue ownership of a newly constructed home in North Port St. Joe.
The program combines CDC-controlled property, homebuyer preparation, mortgage qualification, education and counseling, and coordination of eligible purchase assistance.
Up to $50K
in purchase assistance sought for eligible buyers*
50–120%
of area median income, generally
3
initial program home sites
Home + Land
conveyed to the buyer at closing
*Not guaranteed. Based on need, available funds, lender approval, and funding-source rules.
Free Community Workshop
Start-to-Home Program Workshop
A pathway to homeownership in North Port St. Joe.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Two sessions
11:00 AM or 6:00 PM
Location
Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church, 261 Avenue D, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
Presenters
Roman Quinn
CRA Manager
City of Port St. Joe
Tina Ubben
Sales Manager
America’s Home Place
What You’ll Learn
- How the Start-to-Home Program works
- Eligibility requirements
- Down payment assistance (SHIP program)
- Mortgage readiness, home construction & next steps
Program Benefits
What the Program Offers
A Newly Built Home
Newly constructed homeownership opportunities on CDC-owned or controlled property.
Purchase Assistance
Help seeking up to $50,000 in eligible down payment and related purchase assistance, depending on need, available funds, lender approval, and funding-source rules. No amount is guaranteed.
Mortgage Readiness
Mortgage-readiness support, homebuyer education, and financial/credit counseling.
Own the Home and the Land
The opportunity to own both the completed home and the land when the CDC conveys the property and home at closing.
Stronger Neighborhoods
An investment in neighborhood stability and long-term homeownership in North Port St. Joe.
Meet Your Program Lead
Darrell Starling, RP
Consultant, NPSJ CDC · Owner, D. Starling Consulting, LLC
Darrell is a community redevelopment professional, real estate developer, and consultant with more than 15 years of experience in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and economic development. He holds the Redevelopment Professional (RP) designation from the Florida Redevelopment Association and helped develop the CDC’s Start-to-Home Program to create real pathways to homeownership in North Port St. Joe.
“Meaningful redevelopment should not only transform properties—it should transform lives and create opportunities for generations to come.”
Eligibility
Who May Qualify?
The program generally serves households that:
- Household income generally between 50% and 120% of the applicable area median income, subject to funding-source limits
- Meet applicable first-time-homebuyer rules (generally no ownership of a principal residence in the preceding three years)
- Plan to live in the home as your primary residence
- Complete required homebuyer education and counseling
- Show mortgage readiness or a reasonable path to qualifying for a mortgage
Don’t have a mortgage pre-approval yet? You may still apply.
Initial Program Properties
Where the Homes Will Be
Avenue E, Port St. Joe
Parcel 05825-000R
318 Avenue C, Port St. Joe
Parcel 05980-000R
320 Avenue C, Port St. Joe
Parcel 05982-000R
Property preferences do not guarantee assignment. Development, funding, and program approvals are required.
Step by Step
How It Works
- 1
Submit the signed application and supporting documents.
- 2
The CDC reviews income, household eligibility, assets, and first-time-homebuyer status.
- 3
If selected, enter a conditional 90-day qualification/reservation agreement.
- 4
Complete homebuyer education, counseling, and first-mortgage qualification.
- 5
The CDC helps coordinate eligible down payment and purchase assistance.
- 6
The home is constructed on CDC-owned/controlled land, subject to inspections and approvals.
- 7
After construction and final qualification, the CDC conveys the completed home and land to you at closing.
The 90-day period is for buyer qualification, not a guarantee of construction completion within 90 days.
Get Ready
Documents to Gather
Submit copies of these with your application. Some may not apply to every household, and the CDC, lender, or funding source may request more.
Apply for Start-to-Home
Apply in 3 Simple Steps
The application is a fillable PDF. You can type into it on a computer or phone, or print it and fill it out by hand.
1. Download
Download the Start-to-Home Homebuyer Application.
Download Application (PDF)2. Complete & Sign
Fill in every section (write “N/A” where something doesn’t apply), sign it, and save it. Gather copies of your supporting documents.
3. Email It
Attach your application and documents and send them to all three addresses:
Email Your Application
Protect your information: email is not encrypted. Please do not type your Social Security number into the body of your email. If you’d rather drop off or mail paper copies of your documents, call one of the contacts below to make arrangements.
Important Notice
Application does not guarantee selection, a specific property, mortgage approval, financial assistance, construction completion by a specified date, or closing. Affordability and recapture terms vary by funding source. Current funding-source requirements control.
Fair Housing: The North Port St. Joe Community Development Corporation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations are available on request.
Ready to Start Your Path Home?
Download the application today, or reach out with questions about the Start-to-Home Program.