Historical houses can be costly to repair.
Owning a home with historical significance can be a great source of pride but finding the funding for renovations or repairs can be daunting. All the things that people love about historical houses, like the intricate woodwork or the stained glass windows, are costly to repair and maintain. There are grants available to restore these houses but finding one can be as tricky as getting one. Does this Spark an idea?
Historical Register
A home on the historical register can qualify for grants.
Plaques that grace the fronts of historical homes designate them as being on the National Register of Historic Homes. The National Register of Historic Homes is administered by the National Park Service, but the process of getting a home on the register is done at the state level. Having a home on the National Register does not guarantee getting a grant for renovations, but it is a step in the right direction. However, grants on the state or local level are also available for homes that are not on the National Register of Historic Homes.
Grants
Grants are usually given on the state level.
There is a hierarchy to the grant industry. Federal agencies or national foundations, like the National Trust Preservation, give grants to state and local governments and non-profit organizations. The local-level organizations then give grants or use the funds to give low-interest loans to individuals. Grants are rarely given from the national level to an individual homeowner. The best place to start the search for grants is with state historical preservation offices.
There are foundations that give grants primarily to local governments or non-profits but also have funds available to individuals who own a home or building on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. The Joanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors are two examples of foundations giving grants ranging from $2500 to $10,000.
Renovation Plans
Have a historically based plan for renovations.
Perhaps even more important than having a home on the National Register of Historic Homes is having a clear and historically based renovation plan. Preservation groups want to know that homeowners receiving grants are making an effort to preserve the historical integrity of the home. This will require doing some homework about the original structure and fixtures of the home unless this research was done in the process of getting the home on the historical register.
Other Funds
Grants are not the only source of funding historical homes.
Grants are not only difficult to find, but they are also difficult to get. The grant process is complicated and highly competitive. An owner of a historical home should explore all funding options, along with grants. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a FHA Streamline Mortgage to help homeowners renovate a home with historical significance or in a historical district before moving into the house. The loan allows up to $35,000 in repair and renovation funds for qualifying buyers. There is also a tax credit incentive offered on historical homes through the Preservation Heritage Service, a division of the National Park Service.
Tags: National Register, National Register Historic, Register Historic, Historic Homes, Register Historic Homes, give grants, historical homes
