On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which prohibits seller-funded down payment assistance. Historical program information is only provided for reference on this website.

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Family Home Providers Program

Loan Assistance Programs 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

Family Home Providers is a non-profit affordable housing company offering down payment assistance to any family with steady employment and good credit. Under the Family Home Providers plan, those with an FHA loan are eligible for 3% of the final contract price of the home purchased with the FHA approved loan. Under this program:

  • The buyer makes an offer on an FHA qualified home.
  • The home must appraise for the sales contract price (or more).
  • Buyer and Seller must apply for the program.
  • Funds are intended for down payments. The seller pays closing costs.

One business day before closing on the home, Family Home Providers will wire the money to the closing agent. Your loan officer can set up a homeowner's insurance policy for your new home and open an escrow account, and you can close the deal.

Under the Family Home Providers down payment assistance program, your out-of-pocket costs for the down payment and/or closing costs should be under $1,000. Talk to your loan officer if you think you need to lower this amount. The loan officer can give you advice for saving the extra money, or re-arranging the closing terms to absorb some of the additional costs into your FHA loan where permitted. You may not be able to absorb all the closing costs of an FHA mortgage, ask your loan officer what rules may apply to you.

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.

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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News

What to Do Before You Apply for an FHA Mortgage

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.

Revised FHA and HUD Appraisal Guidelines

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).

What to Know About Earnest Money

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.

Services and Fees for FHA Mortgages

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.

What You Can and Can't Do with Your FHA Home Loan

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.