Sunrise offers incentives to home buyers

SUNRISE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida city is now offering a cash incentive for future homeowners who decide to buy a home in their community.

City of Sunrise officials urge those looking for a place to live to consider moving to their city. "Like every other city, we're dealing with foreclosures, so this is a program is to make people think a little bit harder about where they want to move, and it's a program to bring people to Sunrise," said Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan.

Sunrise currently has a program that offers up to $2,000 to those purchase homes that are in short sale or foreclosure, and remodel those homes. "Upgrade on appliances, roof repair, landscaping, new AC, new hot water heater," Mayor Ryan said. "The things people do to try to improve a house, now those costs will be paid for by the city as long as they move here."

"It's an incentive to get people to buy into those particular properties that they may not normally have the funds available to do the rehab," Realtor Stephen McWilliam said.

Ten years ago, Winston Cannicle decided to move to Sunrise to raise his family. Cannicle has endured the foreclosure crisis and still lives in Sunrise, and he believes the program is a great idea for those struggling in this economy. "It's hard for people to try and make ends meet, so any incentives at are there would be a plus," said Cannicle. "It's a good idea."

Those interested in applying for the reimbursement program should visit Sunrise City Hall to fill out an application.

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