Some cities and states are so desperate for new faces that they’re offering all kinds of incentives to lure people in. Take Vermont for instance. The state recently passed a bill saying they’ll pay remote workers $10,000 to relocate there and work from home. The deal is you must become a full-time resident on or after January 1, 2019. Act fast because they’re only giving out $125,000 for 2019 which will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If Vermont isn’t your cup of tea, it’s okay because they’re not your only option. Here are 6 places that will pay you to live there.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore offers multiple incentives to make becoming a homeowner more feasible. But for now, we’ll just touch on two. First up is their Vacants to Value (V2V) Booster Program which awards home buyers up to $10,000 for their down payment and closing costs. To qualify, your new home must be a property Baltimore Housing has declared vacant for at least a year. The city also has a “Buying into Baltimore” program which awards individuals with $5,000 to use towards a home. To be eligible, you must attend one of their Trolley Tours and execute a sales contract within 10 business days. Each winner is selected by lottery.
Curtis, NE
While some people are perfectly happy living in a pre-owned house, others prefer something brand new. For those looking to build their home from scratch, Curtis, NE has an awesome deal for you. They’re giving away free land to anyone willing to construct a single-family home within a certain time frame.
Harmony, MN
Known as “The Biggest Little Town in Southeast Minnesota”, Harmony has a lot to offer. They have approximately 60 miles of bike trails, good schools and the largest Amish community in the state. If you’re willing to build your home from the ground up, Harmony has a rebate program that will pay you for your effort. Depending on the homes estimated market value, you can receive between $5,000 to $12,000. To cash in, your newly constructed property must be worth at least $125,000.
Kansas
According to LendEDU, the average borrower from the Class of 2017 owes $28,288 in student loans. Graduating with so much debt can be extremely overwhelming when you’re just starting your career. Fortunately, Kansas has a program that can help ease the load. The Rural Opportunity Zones program covers 77 counties and offers financial incentives to new full-time residents. One of them being student loan repayments up to $15,000 over five years. To be eligible, you must have your degree, an outstanding loan balance in your name and provide proof. Another incentive they offer is state income tax waivers for up to five years.
Marne, IA
Tired of the hustle and bustle of a big city? Consider relocating to Marne, IA. With a population of approximately 120 people, you’ll experience fewer crowds and a much slower pace. Most importantly, they’re giving away free land to build your dream home. How much land are we talking? Well, the lot size is around 80 feet x 120 feet. The rules state that your new house must be at least 1200 square feet and construction needs to be completed within 18 months.
New Haven, CT
The final spot on our list of places that will pay you to live there is New Haven, CT and the incentives are hard to beat. First, they offer a $10,000 interest-free loan to use towards a down payment or closing costs. If you live in the home for at least 5 years, the loan is forgiven. City employees, teachers, police officers, firefighters and military members can score an additional $2,500 to cover the costs. Want to make energy saving upgrades to the home? No problem, they’ll give you up to $30,000 for that. If you live in the residence for at least 10 years, you don’t have to pay the loan back. New Haven also guarantees free tuition to students attending an in-state state college.
