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 2017
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:
FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
September 3, 2017 - There are many different types of FHA loans available for borrowers who want more options than a typical suburban home. Many types of properties may be purchased with an FHA insured mortgage, including manufactured homes, multi-family units, and condominiums.
August 12, 2017 - If you have never heard of an FHA Jumbo Loan, you’ll be interested to learn that this is a mortgage which exceed the county limit for mortgages in a given zip code. You may be eligible to apply for an FHA home loan in excess of FHA loan limits, but there are things to understand before you apply.
July 19, 2017 - The 203(K) Rehab loan is the FHA's primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. As such, it is an important tool for community and neighborhood revitalization and for expanding homeownership opportunities.
July 12, 2017 - FHA loan rules for the single-family loan program are designed for owner-occupiers, but depending on circumstances a borrower may be approved by a participating lender to buy another home--usually in response to a pragmatic need like a larger family or job requirements.
July 7, 2017 - Are there major differences between FHA loans and conventional loans? Why do borrowers choose FHA mortgages over conventional loans? A participating FHA lender can offer qualified borrowers lower interest rates, early payoffs without a penalty, and more.
