The
A Pilot Program
For
many years,
What is the purpose of the program?
We believe that faculty should have the opportunity to invest in the private housing market as an alternative to living in Columbia-owned housing. This could have significant short-term and long-term financial advantages for individuals and families. We also hope that the program will reduce demand for University housing and increase availability for faculty for whom purchasing is not attractive.
Who is eligible?
Professorial
rank faculty who are eligible for University housing
are also eligible for the housing assistance program. Eligibility, however, does not guarantee
inclusion – just as it does not for University apartments. The same priorities that determine access to
University apartments will also shape access to the housing assistance
program. For example, faculty
who already live outside the
What assistance is the University providing?
The
University is providing two kinds of assistance to faculty participating in the
program: (1) an annual housing supplement, and (2) help in acquiring a
favorable mortgage.
(1)
The University will pay an annual housing supplement to each participating
faculty member. The supplement will be
$40,000 a year for eligible tenured faculty members,
and $22,000 a year for eligible non-tenured faculty members. Participating non-tenured faculty members who
are later promoted to tenure will see their housing supplement will rise to the
level of tenured faculty participants.
These payments will continue until participating faculty leave the
University, move into
The housing supplement will be taxable income (although if used to pay mortgage interest, much of it may be deductible). The housing supplement will not be considered in the calculation of University pension contributions or other benefits.
(2)
The University will provide each participant in the mortgage program with a one-time subsidy of $40,000 to assist with the purchase. This payment may be used for one or more of the following purposes: payment to reduce the interest rate for the life of the loan (“points”, as described above); a down payment on the purchase price; payment of closing fees, mortgage recording taxes, transfer and title fees, “mansion” tax, or legal fees.
This subsidy, like the housing supplement described above, will be taxable income and will not be considered in the calculation of University pension contributions or other benefits. Some of the expenses associated with the mortgage (such as “points”) may be deductible.