Umatilla Saves Program

What is Umatilla Saves Program?

Umatilla Saves Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Pendleton|Mission, Oregon.

• Nixyaawii Community Financial Services (NCFS) is a Native CDFI of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Its Umatilla Saves program offers matched-savings and DPA loan products to qualified Native households purchasing primary residences in Umatilla County and surrounding region.
• Tribal CDFI matched savings / down payment assistance loan program for members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and other eligible Native households purchasing primary residences. Funds may be used for down payment, closing costs, and pre-paids.
• Funding comes from Tribal, CDFI, and Treasury.

Do you have to pay it back?

Umatilla Saves Program is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off.

• Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, refinance without subordination, or loss of owner-occupancy.
• The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position.
• Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Umatilla Saves Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

What are the income limits?

Umatilla Saves Program limits household income to 100% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

• Household income tiers from very-low (~$17,100 for 1-person) up to 100% AMI (~$87,450 for larger households, 2025).
• 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?

Umatilla Saves Program caps the purchase price as follows: Set per program guidelines.

• Eligible property types include 1-unit single-family, condominium, townhome, PUD, manufactured home on owned land.
• New construction is eligible.
• Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Umatilla Saves Program names 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?

Umatilla Saves Program serves buyers purchasing in Pendleton|Mission, Oregon.

How do you apply?

Applications for Umatilla Saves 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 NCFS Financial Education / HUD-approved counseling.

2. 2

   Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

   Funds are reserved through Application through NCFS, 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.