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 2020
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:
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
January 4, 2020 - Purchasing a home, or building one from the ground up using a construction loan, is a serious commitment. You’ll need to review your credit rating and credit history, which is beneficial no matter what you decide about buying a home.
January 2, 2020 - Did you know FHA mortgages are not limited to first-time home buyers or those who have never owned property before? It’s true--you don’t need to have a financial need or be a first-time buyer to qualify.
December 30, 2019 - There is no income limit for FHA Jumbo loans, and there is no first-time home buyer requirement. There is, however, a set of rules that apply specifically to Jumbo loans that you’ll want to know about.
December 24, 2019 - If you are interested in refinancing your home loan with an FHA mortgage, you may be confused over the rules . Some FHA refinance loans allow cash back to the borrower while others do not. The requirements for such loans will depend on whether there is cash back or not.
December 22, 2019 - If you are considering a home loan in the new year, consider the options open to you with an FHA mortgage. FHA loans are guaranteed by the government for a certain amount of the loan, which makes it easier for the lender to offer you credit even if you have previous negative credit issues.
