Every state has down payment or homeownership assistance programs; some states have both. The programs are designed to provide affordable housing opportunities to homebuyers who might not ordinarily be able to afford a house.
Each program can have their own income and eligibility requirements but primarily the programs are available for first-time homebuyers or low-income families.
Keep in mind if you had no ownership in a principal residence in the previous 3 years, you are also considered a first-time homebuyer even if you owned a home prior to that 3-year period.
The programs are not usually administered directly through the State. Instead, they are nonprofit based and handled through a third party agency. The list below will start you on your search but be sure to confirm the program is currently available.
(Source: HUD.gov)
Statewide and Regional Programs
Hawaii Affiliates of Habitat for Humanity – through volunteer labor, builds and rehabilitates houses for families in need
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing – homebuyer programs in rural communities
HUD approved housing counseling agencies
Community contacts – find out if your community offers homeownership assistance
Statewide Homebuying Programs
Alu Like, Inc.
Hale O Na Limahana
458 Keawe Street
Honolulu, HI 96813-5125
(808) 535-6735
Fax: (808) 524-1533
Contact email address: grfield@alulike.org
Website: www.alulike.org
Money Smarts – financial literacy program
Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Hawaii
1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1614
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 532-3225 – Oahu
(808) 969-7136 – Hilo
(808) 242-8399 – Maui
Provides financial education and debt counseling at no or low cost.
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
P. O. Box 1879
Honolulu, HI 96808
(808) 586-3834
Receives and maintains applications of native Hawaiians for residential, agricultural or pastoral lot leases
Hawaiian Community Assets
1050 Queen Street, Suite 201
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 687-7886
Fax: (808) 587-7899
Toll free: (866) 400-1116
Website: www.hawaiiancommunity.net
Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation
677 Queen Street, #300
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 587-0597
Mortgage Credit Certificate, Affordable Housing, Hula Mae Mortgage, Section 8 Homeownership
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
924 Bethel Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 536-4302 – Oahu
1-800-499-4302 – Neighbor Islands
Comprehensive housing counseling services
Nanakuli Housing Corporation
P. O. Box 17489
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 842-0770
Toll free from neighbor islands: (877) 668-2077
Homebuyer Education
Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaii
1427 Dillingham Blvd., Suite 305
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 842-7111
Self-Help Housing
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Rural Development
Room 311, Federal Building
154 Waianuenue Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-8300
Direct/Guaranteed Homeownership Loans, Rural Housing Loans and Grants
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Spark M. Matsunaga Medical & Regional Office Center
Attn: Loan Guaranty Division (26)
459 Patterson Road
Honolulu, HI 96819-1522
(808) 433-0480
Home Loans and Loan Guaranty Services, VA-Acquired Properties for Sale
Oahu
City and County of Honolulu
Department of Community Services
51 Merchant Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 527-5907
Down Payment Loan Program and Rehabilitation Loan Program for Owner-Occupants and Landlords, American Dream Downpayment Assistance Program, Section 8 Homeownership
Hawaii Homeownership Center
1259 Aala Street, Suite 201
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 523-9502
Homebuyer Education
Honolulu Habitat for Humanity
1136 Union Mall, Suite 510
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 538-7070
Fax: (808) 538-7171
Contact via email: info@honoluluhabitat.org
Website: honoluluhabitat.org
Self-Help Housing
Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation
677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 712
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 523-5681
Rent-to-Own Program – Tenney Village in Ewa
Kauai
County of Kauai Housing Agency
4444 Rice Street, Suite 330
Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 241-4431
Homebuyer Loan Program, American Dream Downpayment Assistance Program, Section 8 Homeownership
Kauai Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 394
Lawai, HI 96765
(808) 335-0296
Contact via email
Self-Help Housing
Maui
County of Maui – Department of Housing and Human Concerns
86 W. Kamehameha Avenue
Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 270-7351
American Dream Downpayment Assistance Program
Hale Mahaolu
200 Hina Avenue
Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 872-4150
Comprehensive housing counseling services
Lokahi Pacific
1935 Main Street, suite 204
Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793
(808) 242-5761
Fax: (808) 244-2057
Maui Habitat for Humanity
P.O. Box 5034
Kahului, HI 96733
(808) 893-0334
Fax: (808) 877-9462
Contact via email
Self-Help Housing
Molokai Habitat for Humanity
(808) 560-5444
Fax: (808) 560-5445
Contact via email
Self-Help Housing
Hawaii Island
County of Hawaii – Office of Housing and Community Development
50 Wailuku Drive
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8379
American Dream Downpayment Assistance Program
Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation
100 Pauahi Street, Suite 204
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 969-1158
Serving Hawaii County: Mutual Self-Help Housing for low to very-low income families
Hale Aloha O Hilo HFH
700 Manono Street, Suite 102
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-6677
Fax: (808) 935-6637
Contact via email
Website: www.hilohabitat.org
Self-Help Housing
Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii, Inc.
P.O. Box 4619
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
(808) 331-8010
Website: http://www.habitatwesthawaii.org
Guam
Habitat for Humanity of Guam
506 East Sunset Blvd.
Tiyan, Guam 96912
Phone: (671) 475-4663
Contact via email
Homebuyer Education Providers
Hawaii Homeownership Center
1259 Aala Street, Suite 201
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 523-9502
Homebuyer Education
Hawaiian Community Assets
1050 Queen Street, Suite 201
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 687-7886
Fax: (808) 587-7899
Toll free: (866) 400-1116
Website: www.hawaiiancommunity.net
Nanakuli Housing Corporation
P. O. Box 17489
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 842-0770
Toll free from neighbor islands: (877) 668-2077
Homebuyer Education