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 2021
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
July 27, 2021 - What documents do you need to complete a mortgage application? Once you get past the eligibility question, there are a variety of things you’ll want to have at your fingertips when filling out forms to get pre-approved for a purchase loan or apply directly for one.
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July 24, 2021 - ​What factors change FHA loan rates? Interest rates, in general, can fluctuate daily, and it can be difficult to know what to think when you see rates offered at one level from one lender, and at a higher or lower rate elsewhere.
July 22, 2021 - How many mortgage calculators do you need? There are multiple versions and they all have an important function. Many seeking FHA loans won’t need to use all of them or even most of them. Sometimes you just need a little extra information for planning and saving purposes.
July 21, 2021 - Are you concerned that your lender might deny your home loan? Do you know why your loan might be denied and what you can do about it ahead of time? Reasons may include late or missed payments on rent or past mortgages, low credit scores, or houses that cannot pass the appraisal process.
