BANGOR, Maine, November 13, 2024 – USDA Rural Development (RD) has announced a new Housing Program Director in Maine. Amanda Burke accepted the position in September and will be based in the agency’s State Office in Bangor. With more than twenty years of experience in real estate finance and mortgage lending, Burke now leads a team of thirteen Rural Development housing specialists and technicians. She will advance USDA RD State Director Rhiannon Hampson’s initiatives to promote the agency’s housing programs while working to make them more accessible and efficient for rural Mainers.
RD’s Single Family Housing Programs help families and individuals buy, build, or repair affordable homes in rural Maine. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2021, Rural Development has invested $600 million in single family housing in Maine, primarily through direct loans (mortgages obtained directly from USDA) and loan guarantees (supporting loans obtained from conventional lenders). RD programs offer flexible terms, require no down payment, and can sometimes subsidize payments for buyers with low or very low incomes.
“At USDA, we believe that no matter a person’s tax bracket or ZIP code, they should have access to well-built, affordable housing,” said Director Hampson. “For this reason, though the markets may fluctuate from year to year, Rural Development remains steady in its commitment to helping Mainers achieve home ownership. We know how life-changing it can be for people to have that security, particularly in rural communities where there may be few rental options.”
In taking her new position as Housing Program Director, Burke is returning to programs she knows well, having formerly been part of the RD housing staff. She brings more than a decade of experience in USDA’s Guaranteed Single Family Housing, Direct Single Family Housing, and Multifamily Housing programs from her earlier tenure.
“I grew up understanding that homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream,” says Burke. “Homeownership offers a range of economic benefits including the ability to build wealth through credit access, equity accumulation, and reduced housing costs. I firmly believe that the Single Family Housing programs facilitated through USDA Rural Development are essential to ensuring that rural Mainers have access to affordable homeownership opportunities—whether that means buying, building, or repairing a home.”
Rural Development Housing Programs in Maine:
To learn more about the USDA housing programs available in Maine, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me. Buyers interested in working with a traditional bank through RD’s guaranteed loan program should consult an approved lender directly. (Find a list of Maine lenders here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/lenders?state=ME) For more information about eligibility or how to apply, contact your local USDA RD Single Family Housing office (call 207-990-9100 ext. 4 for locations or email SFHMaine@USDA.gov).
Background: USDA Homeownership Programs:
Since 1949, USDA has made financing affordable for families who would otherwise be unable to secure a home loan. By providing low interest rates, loan guarantees, reduced down payments, and construction grants, Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Programs have become a vital resource for millions of rural Americans. These programs include:
- The Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program has helped qualified lower-income applicants buy homes with no money down so they can build wealth and equity.
- The Single Family Home Repair Loan and Grant Program has helped families and individuals repair and modernize homes, and make them safer, healthier places to live.
- The Mutual Self-Help Housing Grant Program has worked with nearly 250 organizations to help families and individuals lower the cost to purchasing a home by participating in its construction.
- The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program enables USDA to partner with private lending institutions, backing their loans to help families and individuals buy homes in rural areas.
“I never thought that I’d be able to afford a home on my own. The fact is that USDA made this possible with loans that work for a person like me who is working hard and making a respectable wage but can’t afford to buy at current rates. For me it was the biggest weight off my shoulders, providing hope in a very hopeless situation. I’m so proud that we finally have our own four walls that are ours!
We aren’t going to have to move.
We’ll have the pride of owning our own home.
We can plant our roots and build a lifetime of memory.”
- Borrower in Cumberland County (SFH Direct Loan FY23)
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