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Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Brimley, Michigan, administered by Bay Mills Housing Authority.

Last verified Source: Bay Mills Housing Authority

The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Must be approved for a mortgage through a financial institution (no specific minimum stated).
  • Residency: Home must be located in Chippewa County, Michigan.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: Must be an income-eligible enrolled Bay Mills Indian Community Tribal Member.
  • Once-in-a-lifetime; must be a first-time homebuyer; home in Chippewa County; mortgage approval required (no land contracts). Loan term: forgivable, 5-year repayment-on-default window.
  • A home in Chippewa County

It doesn’t cover

  • Households above 80% of area median income
  • Homes outside Chippewa County

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

Income limit

80% of Chippewa County’s area median income

HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.

$86,300
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)

Where it applies

Chippewa County’s homes

  • 78.1% single-family
  • 4.4% townhouse
  • 4.3% 2–4 units
  • 5% 5+ units
  • 8.2% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$161,900

Chippewa County median home value

55.5%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Chippewa County

How to apply

  1. Contact Bay Mills Housing Authority to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Limited annual funding; applications at the Bay Mills Housing Authority office., and are subject to availability.

  2. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Brimley, Michigan, administered by Bay Mills Housing Authority. The Bay Mills Housing Authority offers a limited amount of Down Payment Assistance on a yearly basis to income-eligible Bay Mills Indian Community Tribal Members who are first-time homebuyers purchasing a home in Chippewa County, Michigan. Assistance equals 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000, available once in a lifetime. The applicant must be approved for a mortgage (no land contracts). If the recipient defaults or sells without buying a replacement within the first five years, the entire amount must be repaid. 10% of purchase price up to $8,000 toward down payment. Available to income-eligible Bay Mills Tribal Members. Credit counseling and mortgage-process support. Forgiven after 5 years of ownership. Funding comes from Bay Mills Housing Authority (limited amount offered yearly).

How much assistance does it provide?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $8,000 in assistance. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Bay Mills Housing Authority determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program is forgiven after 5 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by If the recipient defaults, or sells without purchasing another unit, within the first 5 years, the entire amount must be repaid. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time homebuyer" usually means not having owned a home in the last three years, but the program sets its own definition. On credit, the program states: Must be approved for a mortgage through a financial institution (no specific minimum stated). Residency requirement: Home must be located in Chippewa County, Michigan. Citizenship or immigration status: Must be an income-eligible enrolled Bay Mills Indian Community Tribal Member. Once-in-a-lifetime; must be a first-time homebuyer; home in Chippewa County; mortgage approval required (no land contracts). Loan term: forgivable, 5-year repayment-on-default window.

What are the income limits?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Must meet HUD income guidelines (Bay Mills low-income programs generally use 80% of median income; 4-person dollar limit not stated in the DPA brochure). The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program can be used for Single Family.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program names American Indian and Alaska Native homebuyers among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Brimley, Michigan. The program targets specific areas: Assistance limited to homes located in Chippewa County, Michigan.

How do you apply?

Applications for Bay Mills Indian Community Down Payment Assistance Program go through Bay Mills Housing Authority, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Limited annual funding; applications at the Bay Mills Housing Authority office. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Program terms are set by Bay Mills Housing Authority and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.