First Step

First Step是面向Statewide，Alabama购房者的补助金。 First Step is AHFA's flagship Mortgage Revenue Bond program, providing a below-market 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage paired with up to $10,000 / 4% down payment assistance as a 10-year second mortgage. Available statewide for first-time buyers (or repeat buyers in IRS-designated target areas). Borrowers must meet HUD-set income limits and IRS-set sales price limits. Nearly 50,000 Alabama households have benefited from the program since 1980. First Step pairs a below-market 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage conventional) funded with tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds with a down payment assistance second mortgage of up to $10,000 or 4% of the sales price, whichever is lower. The DPA is structured as a 10-year amortizing second mortgage combined with the 30-year first mortgage. Loans are serviced by ServiSolutions (a division of AHFA) so homeowners write only one check per month. Borrowers using the HFA Advantage conventional product may also qualify for the Affordable Income Subsidy Grant for additional closing-cost assistance. 资金来自Tax-exempt Mortgage Revenue Bonds issued by AHFA; loans serviced by ServiSolutions (an AHFA division)。

First Step按项目规定，提供相当于房价4%的援助。 购房者自付部分：No minimum borrower contribution stated by AHFA; loan-product overlays (FHA/VA/USDA/Freddie HFA Advantage) apply。 该项目可与其他援助结合使用，但须遵守各项目的规定。 金额是该项目公布的上限，并非报价——具体每人的援助金额由管理该项目的机构决定。

First Step属于补助金，因此无需偿还。 触发还款的情形：10-year amortizing second mortgage with monthly payments combined with the first mortgage和balance becomes due upon sale, refinance, or transfer of the property if not yet repaid。 该援助以2nd Lien顺位留置权登记。 免除和还款条款由项目设定，并可能变化——申请前请在项目官方网页上确认。

First Step面向首次购房者和将房屋作为主要住所自住的购房者。 此处的“首次”有例外情况：Repeat homebuyers are eligible if the property is in an IRS-designated target area; otherwise borrower must not have had an ownership interest in a principal residence in the previous 3 years。 关于信用，该项目说明：640 minimum FICO for all loan products (FHA, VA, USDA, and HFA Advantage conventional)。 须参加购房者教育课程，由Approved homebuyer education provider required (online or in-person); list available through participating lenders and AHFA提供。 居住要求：Property must be in Alabama and occupied as primary residence within 60 days of closing。 公民身份或移民身份：U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen per agency loan-product guidelines。 First-time homebuyer required in non-target areas (no homeownership in the previous 3 years); first-time-homebuyer requirement is waived in IRS-designated target areas. Borrowers must occupy as primary residence within 60 days of closing. Property may not be used for business, commercial, or rental purposes. Federal recapture tax may apply to the bond-funded first mortgage if the home is sold within 9 years and the borrower's income has increased significantly. AHFA's First Step income limits are tied to HUD area median family income (AMFI) but are set by IRS bond rules at HUD AMFI for non-target Family 1-2 (e.g., All Other Counties = $86,400) and 115% of AMFI for non-target Family 3+ ($99,360); target-area limits are 120%/140% of AMFI. The 4-person figure of $120,960 (target, All Other Counties) is meaningfully higher than HUD 2025 4-person AMI for many rural Alabama counties (~$70K-$80K), reflecting the bond-program 120% adjustment.

First Step将家庭收入限制在$120,960。 该限制适用于家庭总收入，而不仅是借款人的收入。 地区收入中位数由HUD公布并每年更新，因此在依据某个数字之前，请查看该县的最新表格。

First Step将房价上限设为$665,173。 符合条件的房屋类型包括Single-family detached, townhomes, condos (must meet agency approval), 2-4 unit per IRS bond rules limited (typically 1-unit owner-occupied), manufactured housing per agency guidelines。 新建房屋符合条件。 预制房屋符合条件。

First Step服务于在Statewide，Alabama购房的购房者。 该项目针对特定区域：IRS-designated qualified census tracts and areas of chronic economic distress in Alabama. In target areas, first-time-homebuyer requirement is waived and higher income/sales price limits apply. Use AHFA's Target Area Status Map to verify a property's status: https://www.ahfa.com/programs/homeownership/available-programs/first-step-mortgage-revenue-bonds/targetnon-target-maps。

First Step的申请通过管理该项目的机构办理，该机构在其网站上公布现行条款和申请步骤。 资金通过Lender reserves rate/funds via AHFA's online lender portal (AllRegs/lender system) on a first-come, first-served basis预留。 Hey Prescott不是贷款机构，也不受理申请；本页介绍该项目，方便购房者向贷款机构或住房咨询师咨询。