Responsible Home Ownership
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 2018
The Responsible Home Ownership program is run by a non-profit organization called Community Housing and Development Corp. The Responsible Home Ownership program offers down payment assistance to low-income individuals who have steady income and good credit. You may qualify for this program if you meet the following criteria:
- You meet the low-income criteria for this assistance program.
- You are pre-qualified for an FHA home loan, or are approved for an FHA loan.
- You are purchasing a home in the United States (as opposed to "offshore").
- You purchase a "participating home".
The participating home requirement means the seller must sign the "Participating Home Agreement". Check with your loan officer and/or realtor to learn how to get your seller involved in this program if the seller is not already participating. Funds from this program can be used for both closing costs and down payments.
This down payment assistance program is much different than other programs in one major way; it is not limited to owner-occupied single family residences. The terms of this program allow down payment assistance for multi-family homes and even commercial purchases.
Some of the purchases you can make using down payment assistance from the Responsible Home Ownership program may fall outside the bounds of what you are permitted to buy with an FHA loan. Check with your loan officer if you have specific questions about your participation in this program using an FHA-approved home loan.
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
November 24, 2018 - Applying for an FHA mortgage to purchase a new construction or existing construction home is known as a forward mortgage and there are a variety of options. FHA loans are a good choice if you need more forgiving credit standards and a lower down payment requirement.
November 22, 2018 - If your rent every month is costing you more than a mortgage would, does it make more sense to buy? You may also be tired of being unable to make changes to your living space and want the freedom of home ownership rather than the insecurity of lease expirations, increasing rent, etc.
November 20, 2018 - Do you know what to expect when you want to pull value out of your home in cash? Is there a difference between cash-out refinance loans in Texas and New York? How much money will you get in cash? These and other questions are important to answer in advance.
November 18, 2018 - If you need an FHA forward mortgage, refinance loan, or FHA rehab loan , you should definitely know how home loans work in this area. FHA mortgages require the lender to set the mortgage amount based on the lesser of the appraised value of the home or the seller’s asking price.
November 15, 2018 - FHA refinance loans are for single-family, owner-occupied residences used as a borrower’s home. Your original home loan may not be an FHA mortgage, but you can still refinance your existing non-FHA mortgage into an FHA home loan.
FHA.com Reviews
FHA.com is a one-stop resource for homebuyers who want to make the best decisions when it comes to their mortgage. With our detailed, mobile-friendly site, individuals can access information about different FHA products, the latest loan limits, and numerous other resources to make their homebuying experience easier. Take a look at some of the reviews from other FHA.com visitors!
