This legislation mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a five-year pilot program within one year of enactment. Annually, the program will provide matching funds to 20,000 eligible prospective borrowers, depositing into their qualifying savings accounts an amount equal to the lesser of 50 percent of their yearly deposits or $5,000. A restriction applies, preventing deposits if the account balance reaches 10 percent of the area median value of a single-family home in the borrower's area. To qualify, individuals must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, first-time homebuyers, possess less than $75,000 in liquid assets, and earn no more than 120 percent of the area median income; they must also complete HUD-certified homeownership counseling. The matched funds can only be utilized for specific purposes related to purchasing a single-family home, including down payments , closing costs , real estate agent commissions, appraisal and inspection fees, loan origination fees, or qualified home repairs identified by an inspection. The amount provided to participants is considered a second mortgage with a 36-month term, which is reduced by 1/36th each month of occupancy. If the participant sells or stops living in the home before the term ends, the remaining balance of the second mortgage must be repaid to HUD. Upon the program's termination, HUD is required to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing its effectiveness, including participant demographics, financial outcomes, and a comparison of mortgage default rates.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Housing and Community Development
First-Time Home Buyers Match Act
USA119th CongressHR-7244| House
| Updated: 1/27/2026
This legislation mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a five-year pilot program within one year of enactment. Annually, the program will provide matching funds to 20,000 eligible prospective borrowers, depositing into their qualifying savings accounts an amount equal to the lesser of 50 percent of their yearly deposits or $5,000. A restriction applies, preventing deposits if the account balance reaches 10 percent of the area median value of a single-family home in the borrower's area. To qualify, individuals must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, first-time homebuyers, possess less than $75,000 in liquid assets, and earn no more than 120 percent of the area median income; they must also complete HUD-certified homeownership counseling. The matched funds can only be utilized for specific purposes related to purchasing a single-family home, including down payments , closing costs , real estate agent commissions, appraisal and inspection fees, loan origination fees, or qualified home repairs identified by an inspection. The amount provided to participants is considered a second mortgage with a 36-month term, which is reduced by 1/36th each month of occupancy. If the participant sells or stops living in the home before the term ends, the remaining balance of the second mortgage must be repaid to HUD. Upon the program's termination, HUD is required to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing its effectiveness, including participant demographics, financial outcomes, and a comparison of mortgage default rates.