CONTRACT FOR DEED CONVERSION PROGRAM.

(a) In this section, "office" means the office established by the department to promote initiatives for colonias.

(b) The office shall establish a program to guarantee loans made by private lenders to convert a contract for deed into a warranty deed. To the extent possible, the office shall encourage conversion of a contract for deed under the program into a general warranty deed.

(c) The office shall make agreements with private lenders that will issue loans for contract conversions under the guarantee of the department. The office and the lender must agree on the criteria for issuing a deed conversion loan, including the percentage of the guarantee to be issued by the department.

(d) The office may not make an agreement with a lender unless the agreement allows the office to annually renegotiate the guarantee percentage for a loan issued by the lender. The office shall renegotiate the terms of a guarantee when possible to obtain a better guarantee percentage for the state from the lender.

(e) The office may establish eligibility criteria for a holder of a contract for deed who participates in this program. The criteria must include a priority for homeowners and owners of residential real property who are individuals or families of low, very low, or extremely low income.

(f) The office shall use funds allocated to the department under the federal HOME Investment Partnerships program established under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12701 et seq.) for a guarantee issued under this section.

(g) The office may use the services of the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation when necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1079, Sec. 5.01(1), eff. September 1, 2013.

(i) The department may adopt rules necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.