Oakland County offers $23,000 loans

Oakland County is offering qualifying homeowners interest-free loans of up to $23,000 to fix homes that need repairs, safety work, or energy-saving upgrades. (oakgov.com) The county says the money can be used for projects including roofs, plumbing, heating systems, electrical work, structural defects, basement waterproofing, windows, wells, and septic systems. Repairs must make the home “decent, safe and sanitary.” (oakgov.com) The program is not a grant. Oakland County says there are no monthly payments, but the full loan becomes due when the homeowner no longer lives in the house. (oakgov.com) To qualify, applicants must own and live in the home in Oakland County, meet federally set household income limits, and live in a participating community. Mortgage and home equity loans also must be current. (oakgov.com 1) (oakgov.com 2) The county also says applicants must have enough equity in the property, calculated from state equalized value minus liens, and any bankruptcy must already be discharged. (oakgov.com) Some places are excluded. Oakland County says the City of Lake Angelus, Novi Township, Pontiac, Southfield Township, Waterford Township, and the Village of Bingham Farms do not participate. (oakgov.com) Pontiac has a separate cutoff date. Oakland County says it stopped accepting Home Improvement Program applications for Pontiac on February 1, 2025, and directs residents there to contact the city instead. (oakgov.com) Oakland County staff manage more than the paperwork. The county says staff help residents apply, write repair specifications, oversee the work, and pay pre-screened contractors. (oakgov.com) The county pushed the program again in a March 18, 2026 bulletin that told residents to call 248-858-5401 for details and apply online. (content.govdelivery.com) For homeowners facing expensive repairs, the pitch is simple: borrow at 0% for necessary work now, then repay later when the home is no longer your residence. (oakgov.com)