To see if your community has an MCC program, call your local housing or redevelopment agency. You also may inquire with your real estate broker or the local association of Realtors.

Here is a list of four general requirements to keep in mind:
* Some credit may be claimed only on your owner-occupied principal residence.
*There are maximum income limits, which vary by locality and family size.
* You must be a first-time home buyer, which means you must not have had any kind of ownership interest in a principal residence during the past three years. This restriction may be waived, however, if you are buying property within certain target areas.
* Allocations must be available. A local MCC program may have to decline new applications when it runs out of funds.

A limited number of cities have authorized the MCC program. Contact your municipal housing department for more information.