First time home buyer programs for government employees

First time home buyer programs for government employees

Down payment and closing cost assistance under the Employer Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) is available to full-time District government employees in good standing with at least one year of service. The service requirement is waived for police officers, corrections officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and teachers in a public or public charter school. Good standing means no adverse action by the District government employer in the past three years.

The EAHP borrower has to be a first-time home buyer in the District, which is defined as having no ownership in a principal residence, in the District, in the past three years. The purchased property must become the employee’s principal residence, but the purchaser can own property in another jurisdiction.

The First-Responder grant requires employment, or acceptance of an offer of employment, with the District of Columbia as a police officer, fire fighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or corrections officer.

All employees eligible for the First-Responder grant are also eligible for the standard $20,000 EAHP loan. Furthermore, District government employees also can qualify for the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), combining the assistance.

How to Apply

To apply for home purchase assistance, contact one of the DHCD-funded Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Though the CBO, applicants will:
•    Attend an orientation session.
•    Schedule an appointment to complete the application.
•    Attend an eight-hour training on home buying and homeownership.

Program Process

After an applicant completes the application, the CBO will forward it to the HPAP Administrator, either the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) or the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA), which will review the application, determine eligibility, and issue an eligible applicant a Notice of Eligibility (NOE). (Note: Applicants for the First-Responder grant also must provide evidence of eligibility by employment verification and execute a five-year service agreement before settlement for the additional grant assistance.) The NOE will outline the maximum amount of assistance available and the next steps to follow. The NOE does not guarantee or reserve funds—that happens when a ratified sales contract is delivered.

Areas of Interest:

  • EAHP Fact Sheet
  • EAHP Enhancements Five Things to Know (MPD version)
  • DHCD HPAP Income Assistance Table 
  • Homebuyer Fact Sheet [English] [En Espanol]
  • DCHousingSearch.org

First time home buyer programs for government employees

Mortgages for Champions is proud to offer special home loans for government employees. With the special loans we offer, government employees are eligible for special rates and have much of the extra paper work, red tape and extra costs reduced.

With these special home loans, government employees will have the Application Fee, the Loan Processing Fee, the Mortgage Underwriting Fee, the Mortgage Commitment Fee and associated Commitment Points eliminated! This can save our champions as much as 2.00% to 3.00%!

Qualifications & Terms for This Special Home Loan

If you work for any of the following departments or fields, you can qualify for our special home loan programs: federal agencies, state agencies, county departments, municipality departments, Departments of Agriculture, banking and insurance, community affairs, corrections, education, environmental protection, health and senior services, human services, labor, law and public safety, military and veteran affairs, treasury, transportation, parks/forestry, Homeland Security, lottery, library, state police, the offices of emergency management, information technology, the Public Defender, and travel and tourism.

Below are some important bullet points about the special home loans programs we offer:

  • First Time Home Buyer and Second Time Home Buyer Program or a 203k Streamline to add a new kitchen or more bedrooms for your growing family.
  • Financing for a single family home, a two to four family unit, a condominium or a manufactured home.
  • Financing for a Mixed Usage Commercial Property such as a store with apartments.
  • Home Loan Programs require very little or NO down payment, competitive low rates and allows more flexible credit criteria.
  • Refinance Programs also provide a rate and term refinance up to a 97.75% loan to value of the appraised value of your home.
  • Refinance Programs also provide a cash-out refinance  mortgage (for any reason) up to a 85.00% loan to value.

For more information on special home loans for government employees, please fill out the form on this page, or call us at +1 (800) 745-5363