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Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4069| House 
| Updated: 6/23/2025
Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (20)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Seth Magaziner (Democratic)Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)

Financial Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025" establishes a new program under the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants to States and eligible entities. These grants are specifically designed to offer financial assistance to first-generation homebuyers for acquiring owner-occupied primary residences. The program's overarching goal is to address multigenerational inequities in access to homeownership and to narrow, and ultimately close, the racial homeownership gap in the United States. Funds are allocated with 75 percent distributed among States based on a formula considering potential qualified homebuyers and median home prices, while the remaining 25 percent is competitively awarded to eligible entities. The assistance covers various costs, including downpayment costs , closing costs, and expenses to reduce interest rates on eligible mortgage loans. It also supports subsidies for shared equity homes to maintain affordability and funds pre-occupancy home modifications for individuals with disabilities. To qualify, homebuyers must meet specific criteria, including a household income not exceeding 120 percent (or 140 percent in high-cost areas) of the area median income. They must also be a first-time homebuyer and a first-generation homebuyer , meaning their parents or legal guardians did not own a home, or they have a history of foster or institutional care. Eligibility for first-generation status relies on borrower self-attestation, and creditors are protected from liability for good faith reliance on these attestations. The maximum assistance amount is the greater of $20,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, with potential increases for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or those acquiring homes in high-cost areas. States administering the program must ensure compliance with fair housing requirements and are prohibited from prioritizing homebuyers based on state-assisted mortgages or seeking to recoup funds, except under specific conditions. The Secretary can recapture and reallocate funds if a grantee fails to expend them timely or distributes them inequitably, particularly concerning racial or ethnic groups. All qualified homebuyers are required to complete housing counseling before entering a sales agreement, with alternative education options available if counseling capacity is limited. The bill mandates comprehensive reporting on demographic information, assistance types, and property details, disaggregated by ZIP Code or census tract, to ensure equitable outcomes and affirmatively further fair housing. A substantial appropriation of $100,000,000,000 is authorized for the grants, with funds remaining available until expended.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4495
Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4231
Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2023
Mar 11, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-967
Introduced in Senate
Jun 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4495
    Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4231
    Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2023


  • March 11, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-967
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 23, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • S 119-967: Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025

Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4069| House 
| Updated: 6/23/2025
The "Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025" establishes a new program under the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants to States and eligible entities. These grants are specifically designed to offer financial assistance to first-generation homebuyers for acquiring owner-occupied primary residences. The program's overarching goal is to address multigenerational inequities in access to homeownership and to narrow, and ultimately close, the racial homeownership gap in the United States. Funds are allocated with 75 percent distributed among States based on a formula considering potential qualified homebuyers and median home prices, while the remaining 25 percent is competitively awarded to eligible entities. The assistance covers various costs, including downpayment costs , closing costs, and expenses to reduce interest rates on eligible mortgage loans. It also supports subsidies for shared equity homes to maintain affordability and funds pre-occupancy home modifications for individuals with disabilities. To qualify, homebuyers must meet specific criteria, including a household income not exceeding 120 percent (or 140 percent in high-cost areas) of the area median income. They must also be a first-time homebuyer and a first-generation homebuyer , meaning their parents or legal guardians did not own a home, or they have a history of foster or institutional care. Eligibility for first-generation status relies on borrower self-attestation, and creditors are protected from liability for good faith reliance on these attestations. The maximum assistance amount is the greater of $20,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, with potential increases for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or those acquiring homes in high-cost areas. States administering the program must ensure compliance with fair housing requirements and are prohibited from prioritizing homebuyers based on state-assisted mortgages or seeking to recoup funds, except under specific conditions. The Secretary can recapture and reallocate funds if a grantee fails to expend them timely or distributes them inequitably, particularly concerning racial or ethnic groups. All qualified homebuyers are required to complete housing counseling before entering a sales agreement, with alternative education options available if counseling capacity is limited. The bill mandates comprehensive reporting on demographic information, assistance types, and property details, disaggregated by ZIP Code or census tract, to ensure equitable outcomes and affirmatively further fair housing. A substantial appropriation of $100,000,000,000 is authorized for the grants, with funds remaining available until expended.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4495
Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4231
Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2023
Mar 11, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-967
Introduced in Senate
Jun 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4495
    Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4231
    Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2023


  • March 11, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-967
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 23, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (20)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Seth Magaziner (Democratic)Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)

Financial Services Committee

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • S 119-967: Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted