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.

FHA.com: Home Purchase and Refinance Loans

FHA Loan Programs for 2024

The most recognized 3.5% down payment mortgage in the country. Affordable payments w/good credit.

Are You Watching Your Credit Score?




- Improving Your Credit Score Has Never Been More Important -

FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.
FHA Home Loans

Choose a Loan Type

FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.

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.

SEE YOUR CREDIT SCORES   From All 3 Bureaus  

Do you know what's on your credit report?

Learn what your score means.


FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News

FHA Loans: True or False?

April 19, 2024 - We write about many details of FHA home loans, and if you are on the path to homeownership for the first time, it helps to know some of the facts and fiction surrounding these home loans before you start looking for a home, a lender, or applying for pre-qualification.

What Fox Business News Gets Wrong About Home Loans

April 17, 2024 - There is plenty of bad information about home loans in general and FHA loans specifically. You may encounter some of these in the wild when searching for a lender and a home to buy with an FHA mortgage.

FHA, VA, or Conventional? Comparing Home Loan Features

April 16, 2024 - Home loans have many similar features. They require down payments, have appraisal standards, and may have rules on how you can use the property you buy. How do home loans compare to one another? We examine some of the major issues in this article.

What Time Magazine Says About FHA Mortgages

April 14, 2024 - When a first-time homebuyer starts researching their options for a mortgage loan, it’s easy to find bad information and half-true information online, even from otherwise trusted sources. Some publications do their due diligence and review FHA loan rules to ensure accuracy.

Considerations for Renting vs. Owning a Home

April 12, 2024 - There are important choices to make when deciding whether to rent or own, but making the most informed choice is crucial. Some don’t think about the advantage of a fixed mortgage payment over rent that potentially increases year to year.