Minneapolis has begun a second round of home-buying assistance for at least 200 buyers of foreclosed or vacant houses in targeted areas of the city.

The $2 million program offers buyers as much as $10,000 in forgivable loans toward a down payment, closing costs or repairs for vacant or foreclosed single-family houses or duplexes. The buyer must have a purchase agreement, qualify for a fixed-rate prime first mortgage and apply for the aid through a lender unless paying cash.

Applicants who earn less than 80 percent of area median income ($64,720 for a four-person family) are eligible if they buy a foreclosed house or one vacant more than 30 days in these neighborhoods: Bryant, Sheridan, Lind-Bohanon, Venture Village, Whittier, Audubon Park, Holland, Phillips West, Cleveland, McKinley, Harrison, Powderhorn Park, Webber-Camden, Midtown Phillips, Folwell, Near North, Central, Willard-Hay, Jordan, Hawthorne, East Phillips or Beltrami.

People earning less than 120 percent of area median income ($97,080 for four people) are eligible for help with purchases of such houses in the above neighborhoods plus the Corcoran, Bottineau, Regina and Victory neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods are adding to the city's incentives.

More information is available at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/minneapolisadvantage_home.asp or by calling 612-588-3033 for north Minneapolis, or 612-378-7985 for northeast or south Minneapolis.

STEVE BRANDT