Eligibility

To be eligible for the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), you must meet the following criteria:

• Be the head of the household and a first-time homebuyer.
• Be a very low--to-moderate income resident, based on the Department’s standards.
• Cannot have had ownership interest in any residential real estate within the three years prior to application.
• The purchased home must be the borrower’s primary residence and must be located within the District of Columbia.
• Possess a good credit rating.

Application Priority

Applications are prioritized based on the following: 

• low income, elderly, handicapped, disabled or displaced District residents
• other eligible District residents, that are not stated above in a.
• non-residents who have been employed in the District for one year prior to application
• non-residents who have lived in the District for three consecutive years as an adult

Please note: District residents always are the priority for HPAP assistance. We will accept applications from non-residents, but they only will be processed when there are no pending applications from District residents.

How to Apply

To apply for HPAP assistance, please contact one of the Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

Assistance Amount

The level of gap financing assistance is based upon household size, household income, need, and the availability of funds. The maximum amount of HPAP assistance provided to very low- low- and moderate-income eligible households is $202,000. Closing cost assistance is provided separately and cannot exceed $4,000. Review the assistance table to determine your eligibility.

Applicant Contribution

HPAP recipients contribute $500 or 50% of liquid assets greater than $3,000, whichever is greater. For very low- and low-income applicants, the contribution in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) may be waived by the Director where there is demonstrated need and the applicant household is elderly, handicapped, disabled, or displaced.

Loan Repayment

• For moderate income eligible households: Payment on loans is deferred for the first five years. Monthly principal-only payments begin in the sixth year of the loan, amortized over a 40-year period.
• For very low income and low income eligible households: Loans will have no monthly payments.
• When all loans become payable: Regardless of household income, the entire loan amount becomes immediately due and payable if the borrower transfers the property, the property is refinanced (unless the refinance meets certain conditions), or the property ceases to be the borrower’s primary residence.

How to Apply

To apply for HPAP assistance, please contact one of the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) listed under “Housing Counseling” category.

The CBO will forward the completed application to the HPAP administrator, who processes the applications on the District’s behalf. The HPAP administrator will review the application, determine eligibility and issue an eligible applicant a Notice of Eligibility (NOE). The NOE will outline the maximum amount of assistance available and the homeownership steps to follow. DC Housing Search may help with finding a home.