70% Unaware of Down-Payment Assistance

Seventy percent of adults in the U.S. say they're unfamiliar with down-payment assistance programs for middle-income home buyers in their community, according to a NeighborWorks America surveyof 1,000 people. But plenty of help is available.

NeighborWorks organizations provided 6,000 buyers with more than $100 million in down-payment assistance last year. NeighborWorks expects to increase its assistance this year, too. Many local and state organizations offer down-payment assistance as well, and there are specialized programs for military vets through the Veterans Affairs loan program, for first-time buyers through the Federal Housing Administration, and for rural home buyers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

"Down-payment assistance programs make home purchasing more accessible for first-time buyers," says Marietta Rodriguez, vice president of Homeownership Programs and Lending at NeighborWorks America. "In addition, because many down-payment assistance programs require home-buyer education, these purchasers tend to be more successful in the long-term. Research has shown pre-purchase counseling helps reduce mortgage default and equips home owners with the information they need to budget for other expenses and maintain their property."