American Family Funds
Loan Assistance Program Canceled in 2008
Elimination of Nonprofit Down Payment Assistance: On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which prohibits seller-funded DPA (Down Payment Assistance) for loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Prior to this bill, the seller could contribute up to 6% to the buyer to cover either a down payment or closing costs on an FHA loan. The changes took effect on Oct. 1, 2008. We provide this information for reference only. These grants are no longer available.
NEW: Down Payment Assistance Programs for 2024
American Family Funds (AFF) administers The Dove Foundation, a non-profit charity offering down payment and/or closing cost assistance to qualified American homebuyers. The program features:
- A simple application completed by your loan officer.
- No credit check.
- No income requirements.
- No limit on the amount of down payment assistance and/or closing costs.
Once you are pre-qualified for the FHA loan and find a property you want to buy, notify your loan officer, who will apply for the AFF down payment assistance on your behalf. Make an offer on the home that includes use of the AFF program.
- The seller must accept the terms of your offer.
- AFF provides the down payment money at the time of settlement.
- The money is applied to your down payment and/or closing costs.
- Typical down payments range between 3% and 6% of the contract price of a house, but individual terms may vary.
Ask your loan officer for details on American Family Funds, down payment assistance programs, or how to make an offer contingent on the use of the AFF program if you aren't sure how to proceed. AFF is only one of a wide variety of down payment assistance plans, be sure to explore all your options and find the program that meets your needs.
Down payment assistance programs generally require the seller to pay a fee to participate. This fee is considered a payment for services rendered and not a tax-deductible charitable contribution.
Since this program is no longer available, we recommend that you get pre-approved for a low down payment FHA home loan.
Discontinued Down Payment Grant Programs:
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
May 16, 2024 - You’ve saved your down payment funds, researched the housing market, and worked on your credit. When you apply to be pre-approved or prequalified for an FHA mortgage, there are a few things to review before you start filling out the forms.
May 12, 2024 - The FHA and HUD have revised appraisal rules for FHA single-family loans. The revisions are meant to address issues including housing discrimination at the appraisal level, and provide home buyers with clarified guidelines to contest an appraisal or request a reconsideration of value (ROV).
May 11, 2024 - FHA home loans are just one way to buy a home. Some borrowers pay in cash, some use conventional mortgages, and some qualify for VA home loans. But what do all of these have in common in many cases? The need to use home loan earnest money as part of the transaction.
May 10, 2024 - Which services are required for FHA loans, and which ones are optional? Some borrowers ask this in the planning stages because they’re trying to find ways to stretch their home loan budgets for closing costs and the down payment. We examine some critical services in this article.
May 8, 2024 - You cannot make a down payment or pay closing costs with cold, hard cash. You must render payment in the manner acceptable to the lender, which is typically a wire transfer or some other pre-arranged procedure for down payment money.
