WHAT IS PEAK?

PEAK is a down payment assistance program designed to help middle-income families and individuals purchase a home. PEAK stands for
Public, Essential And Key workforce which is the primary group the program serves.


The PEAK Program was introduced in 2009 to provide an affordable home ownership option for employed individuals who were unable to save up enough money for a down payment on their home. PEAK began as a joint program between Trico Residential, the Government of Alberta Municipal Affairs, CMHC and Habitat for Humanity.


To date, PEAK has helped 111 individuals and families purchase a home of their own.


New Peak Housing Initiatives





The PEAK Program, now named the PEAK Housing Initiatives Program, has evolved and is beginning the process of re-circulating the funds collected from the sale of original PEAK housing units into deposits for new home purchasers.

After purchasing their new home, the original PEAK recipients were able to build and retain their home equity in order to move up (selling their PEAK home) and return their original down payment. These funds are now available to help new individuals and families purchase their home.

HOW PEAK WORKS

PEAK housing units are priced at market value and recipients must be able to qualify for and hold a mortgage. Once you are approved for the program, PEAK will provide a second mortgage for either a partial or full down payment up to a maximum of 5% of the purchase price.

The second down payment mortgage is interest free for the first five years, with repayment not due until you sell your home. If you choose to stay in the home beyond the five-year period you will begin to accrue interest to the second mortgage.

The best part about it is that PEAK recipients are able to retain all of the equity in their home, minus their initial deposit, if they stay in the home for at least three years.

The goal of PEAK is to help new home buyers enter the market, retain their equity to move up, and to continue to recirculate the initial fund to help additional buyers purchase a home.

 

 

Who Qualifies For The Program?

PEAK is geared towards buyers who meet the following qualifications:

  • Are pre-approved for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage equivalent to the price of the PEAK housing unit;

  • Have a household income to a maximum of $80,000 per year for singles or couples with no dependant children living at home; or, $90,000 per year for singles or couples with dependent children living at home;

  • Don’t have available resources for a 5% down payment;

  • To secure a unit you must have $1,000 available for a down payment;

  • Have assets equaling less than $30,000 per household (excluding primary vehicle, RESP, RRSP or pension); and

  • Will keep the PEAK Housing unit as your sole permanent residence.