Partners in Charity
Loan Assistance Programs Canceled in 2008
Elimination of Non Profit 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 2017
Partners In Charity is a non-profit group offering down payment assistance on properties such as single-family homes, condominiums, and multi-unit properties. Assistance is also available for rehabilitation programs. Partners In Charity funds are offered to those who qualify for FHA loans or are pre-approved for FHA loan amounts.
There is only one requirement to use the Partners In Charity program; you must intend to occupy the building you purchase. You can't get down payment assistance for purchasing a home you intend to rent. Partners in Charity offers:
- Need-based assistance from 2% to %10 of final closing price.
- Funds can be used for closing costs and down payment.
- This assistance can be listed as the source of down payment in the pre-approval process.
The Partners In Charity program can be listed in your "good faith estimate" for sources of down payment funds. It's important to decide whether you want to use this program in the early stages of your planning, preferably before submitting a request for pre-approval of an FHA home loan. Your loan officer can determine your needs to enter the correct amount of the down payment on these forms.
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:
FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
June 12, 2017 - FHA loan rules in the FHA Handbook limit the contributions of an interested party, who may be the seller or any other person or party who wants to contribute to closing costs. These contributions are limited to a maximum of six percent of the sale price of the home.
May 22, 2017 - Some borrowers experience some confusion over the rules for FHA loans in cases where a homeowner wants to think about applying for an FHA mortgage to buy a second home. What are the FHA loan rules that apply in such circumstances?
April 26, 2017 - Can a flipped home, purchased and renovated for sale at a higher price in a short amount of time, ever be eligible for an FHA home loan? That is a question that’s more common that you might think.
April 5, 2017 - If you are interested in an FHA mortgage, it’s important to understand that occupancy is a key issue. All FHA loan borrowers are expected to occupy the home as their primary residence and are usually required to take possession of the home within 60 days of the loan closing.
March 9, 2017 - In early 2017, the FHA published updates to its PACE policy. While not all purchasers may be affected by these changes, those who are purchasing property encumbered with a Property Assessed Clean Energy obligation should know about the updates.
