Down Payment Assistance Program

What is Down Payment Assistance Program?

Down Payment Assistance Program is a grant for homebuyers in Norfolk, Nebraska.

• NPHA tribal-restricted DPA grant funded through FHLB NAHI; up to $25,000 per household typical (higher in some cycles up to $40,000). 5-year owner-occupancy retention; fully forgivable thereafter. Service area: 15-county region in NE/IA/SD.
• Northern Ponca Housing Authority (NPHA) administers a Down Payment Assistance grant program for Native American homebuyers, funded primarily through the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) Grant Program. NPHA has historically received NAHI funding cycles in partnership with First National Bank of Omaha (most recently $500,000 supporting roughly 10 households at up to $25,000 each, with higher individual awards up to $40,000 in some funding cycles). The DPA grant is fully forgivable after a 5-year owner-occupancy retention period. Funds may be used for down payment, closing costs, and (in some cycles) limited home repair costs.
• Funding comes from Federal, FHLB, NAHI, and Tribal.

Do you have to pay it back?

Down Payment Assistance Program is structured as a grant, so it is not repaid.

• Repayment is triggered by Fully forgivable after 5-year owner-occupancy retention period. If property sold, refinanced (cash-out), or no longer owner-occupied within 5 years, pro-rata recapture applies per FHLB NAHI rules.
• The assistance is recorded in Forgivable position.
• Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Down Payment Assistance Program is open to buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

What are the income limits?

Down Payment Assistance Program limits household income to $115,650.

• 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?

Down Payment Assistance Program caps the purchase price as follows: Per partner first-mortgage product / FHLB NAHI rules; no NPHA-specific cap published.

• Eligible property types include Existing single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, manufactured home on permanent foundation, and new construction permitted under FHLB NAHI rules.
• New construction is eligible.
• Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Down Payment Assistance Program names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, surviving spouses, and American Indian and Alaska Native buyers 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?

Down Payment Assistance Program serves buyers purchasing in Norfolk, Nebraska.

• The program targets specific areas: NPHA 15-county service area: Boyd, Burt, Douglas, Hall, Holt, Knox, Lancaster, Madison, Platte, Sarpy, Stanton, Wayne (NE); Woodbury (IA); Charles Mix (SD).

How do you apply?

Applications for Down Payment Assistance Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

1. 1

   Take a homebuyer education course

   Required by the program, through NPHA homebuyer / tenant counseling and credit/budget counseling provided in-house. Additional NIFA-approved homebuyer education accepted..

2. 2

   Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

   Funds are reserved through Application submitted through NPHA Housing Assistance department; funded annually subject to FHLB NAHI award cycles. Awards typically limited to 10-20 households per funding cycle., and are subject to availability.

3. 3

   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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.