Low Income Home Buying Assistance WORK

In addition to all the programs, HUD funds approved housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on many housing-related topics, including buying a home. Use this map to find one in your state.

low income home buying assistance

The amount of your down payment depends on a few things, including your income, your loan type, the amount of TSAHC assistance that you choose, the cost of the home, and how much you want to borrow. The larger your down payment, the smaller your monthly mortgage payment will be. The smaller your down payment, the larger your monthly mortgage payment.

If you are buying your first home, you can also apply for a mortgage interest tax credit known as a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). To qualify, you must meet certain income requirements and the home must meet certain sales price restrictions.

The Georgia Dream program was created to make homeownership possible for eligible low and moderate income Georgians by providing affordable financing options, down payment assistance, and homebuyer education.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) acts as the secondary market for lenders who want to provide an affordable mortgage product to low and moderate income Georgians. Potential home buyers apply with participating lenders for Georgia Dream loans. The loans are secured or guaranteed by FHA, VA, USDA-RD or conventional uninsured loans. Once the lender has completed the process and gives credit approval, the information is forwarded to DCA for compliance review and funding approval. Georgia Dream rates are available from your participating lender.

An eligible applicant is a first time home buyer, or a home buyer who has not owned a home in the past 3 years, or a home buyer who purchases a home in a targeted area (See What is a targeted area?). Applicant must have a minimum middle credit score of 640, must meet income and purchase price limits and must have limited liquid assets. Refer to the brochure or contact a participating lender at for current program guidelines.

Online and individual pre-purchase housing counseling assistance is available through the "Ready, Set, Go" program to assist home buyers who are not eligible for Georgia Dream (if the middle credit score is below 640). After an interactive online course a home buyer will receive personalized housing counseling from a participating "Ready, Set, Go" Housing Counseling Agency at The cost for "Ready, Set, Go" is $50.

Two ratios are used to qualify applicants for a mortgage loan. The housing ratio is the percentage of your potential new monthly mortgage payment, including monthly cost estimates for property tax and homeowners insurance as compared to your gross monthly income. The total debt ratio includes your prospective new monthly mortgage payment plus your existing debt payments compared to your gross monthly income. Your lender can calculate these for you and discuss if your ratios meet the Georgia Dream program ratio requirements.

The applicant must contribute a minimum of $1,000 of their own money or documented gift funds into the purchase transaction in order to receive the down payment assistance. There may be additional costs associated with the purchase of your home that will be your responsibility.

Yes. The down payment assistance is a 0% interest loan with no monthly payment. A second mortgage lien is placed on your property. It is due when you sell, refinance or no longer occupy the home as your primary residence. When funds are paid back we use the money to help the next generation of applicants start the process. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs may offer other down payment assistance programs that could have different requirements regarding repayment of the down payment assistance. Information regarding other programs will be on the Georgia Dream website.

While it certainly can be challenging to purchase a home on a lower-than-average income, there are a variety of loan options and programs available that help make homeownership more attainable for low-income folks.

The housing choice voucher program (sometimes referred to as Section 8), which provides rental assistance to very low-income families, has a program that allows these same families to use their vouchers to purchase and own their own homes. This program is called the Housing Choice Voucher homeownership program.

Though there are some differences between these two programs, they both have similar requirements, including that borrowers make no more than 80% of the median income for their area and take a homeownership education course prior to purchasing.

The Office of Housing provides downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers at or below 80% of area median income through partnerships with local nonprofits and lending institutions. Our partners use Seattle Housing Levy funds, in addition to various other subsidy sources to create affordable homeownership opportunities in Seattle. See more information about our partner Homeownership Organizations below and learn about your eligibility for this program.

Habitat for Humanity Seattle - King County (206) 453-2950Habitat of Seattle/South King County builds decent, affordable homes for families in need. Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor - sweat equity - into building their Habitat house. The lender provides a mortgage which keeps the calculated housing costs below 30% of gross income. If the homeowner cannot afford to pay the full price of the home, Habitat will help secure Down Payment Assistance and provide subsidy financing.

HomeSight (206) 723-4355HomeSight is a nonprofit community development corporation that promotes affordable homeownership opportunities through homebuyer education and financial planning, buyer purchase assistance loan underwriting and origination, and new home construction. Through private and public partnerships, HomeSight provides purchase assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers in the form of a low interest loan, and potential borrowers may access up to $70,000 in downpayment assistance.

Homestead Community Land Trust (206) 323-1227Homestead is a community-based non-profit affordable homeownership provider that helps income-eligible buyers purchase affordable homes in Seattle, and keeps these homes affordable for future buyers, as well. Homes purchased through Homestead typically cost $50,000-$100,000 less than the home's market-value. Buyers agree that if they choose to sell their home in the future, the sale will be affordable for the next income-eligible buyer. Sellers are able to realize financial equity while Homestead ensures that homes remain affordable for the long-term.

Parkview Services(877) 541-9846 Parkview Services creates inclusive housing solutions that promote stability, opportunity and community. For over 25 years Parkview has supported people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities through the numerous programs that include HUD housing counseling, first time home buyer classes, post purchase financial management, default prevention and down payment assistance. Parkview Services provides purchase assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers in the form of a low interest deferred second mortgage. Eligible homebuyers may access as much as $110,000 in down payment assistance by layering multiple down payment sources.

Washington State Housing Finance Commission (206) 464-7139The Seattle Down Payment Assistance Program is a down payment assistance, second mortgage loan program that combines with the House Advantage or House Key first mortgage program. This program is for people buying a primary residence within the city limits of Seattle. This progarm allows up to $55,000 in down payment assistance with payments deferred for 30 years, at 3% simple interest.

Generally, downpayment assistance programs that use Office of Housing funds will require the following eligibility and property selection criteria. Please work with one of the homeownership organizations listed above to confirm specific eligibility and property selection criteria with the downpayment assistance program you will be using.

Assistance Amounts Up to a maximum of $55,000 per household is available for downpayment assistance for open market purchases or for unrestricted homes developed by a homeownership partner organization. For resale restricted homes, developed by homeownership partner organizations the amount of assistance is higher. Up to $70,000, for homes with fewer than 3 bedrooms or up to $90,000 per unit for homes with 3 or more bedrooms.

Housing Counseling Requirement The Office of Housing requires that homebuyers using downpayment assistance receive one-on-one housing counseling in addition to the homebuyer education program. There are currently two approved organizations that offer this service: HomeSight and Parkview Services.

Eligible applicants can receive a maximum of $202,000 in gap financing assistance and an additional $4,000 in closing cost assistance. The HPAP loan for borrowers with incomes below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) is deferred until the property is sold, refinanced to take out equity, or is no longer their primary residence. Moderate-income borrowers who earn between 80 percent and 110 percent AMI will have payments deferred for five years with a 40 year principal-only repayment period.

(PROGRAM FUNDS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE) The ADFA MCC Program is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for first time, low-to-moderate income homebuyers. The certificate is issued by ADFA and allows qualifying homebuyers to claim a tax credit of up to 35% of the mortgage interest paid per year.

The Arkansas Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI) provides lower income homebuyers in Arkansas, who qualify for an ADFA first mortgage, up to $25,000. It is a second mortgage loan with no monthly payment that is forgivable over five to ten years depending on amount of assistance received. 041b061a72