CHFA Mortgage Assistance for Connecticut Home Buyers
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, or CHFA, provides mortgage assistance programs to homebuyers in Connecticut. To receive CHFA mortgage assistance, you must be a first-time homebuyer or buying a home in a revitalization zone and qualify for CHFA assistance based on income. CHFA offers both low interest rate loans as well as downpayment assistance.
CHFA mortgages can be used to purchase single family homes, condos, multi-family homes, and even some mobile homes.
The current CHFA interest rate is 3.5% for government insured mortgage loans and 3.75% for non-insured mortgage loans.
CHFA First-Time Homebuyer Mortgages
Under the CHFA, first-time homebuyers and those who have not owned a home in over three years qualify for the First-Time Homeowner program. The Buyer, or borrower, must also mee
There are also income limits as well as property value limits for CHFA mortgages. The Buyer, or borrower, must make less than a certain amount, which is $87,800 for a home of 1 to 2 people, and $100,970 for a home of three or more people. There are also some income limit differences depending on the town you are looking to purchase in. The property value limits also vary by town. The income and property value limits for specific towns are listed here: CHFA Income & Value Limits by Town.
CHFA Down Payment Assistance
As a separate service from its low interest mortgage loans for low-income households, CHFA also offers downpayment and closing cost assistance. Down Payment Assistance is offered to borrowers who can afford to pay both loans but lack the savings to make the downpayment (less than $10,000.00 total household savings).
The minimum for Down Payment Assistance loan amount is $3,000, with the maximum being the minimum downpayment amount for the actual CHFA mortgage. In most cases, the Down Payment Assistance interest rate will match the CHFA mortgage interest rate, but it can vary and could be up to 6%.
CHFA Revitalization Zones
CHFA also offers mortgage assistance for homebuyers looking to purchase homes in certain areas marked for revitalization. These are areas where the Federal Government has determined would benefit from and increase in home ownership.
In the CHFA Revitalization Zones, the first-time homebuyer requirement is suspended, 1/4% reduction in CHFA published interest rate, income limits do not apply unless also seeking downpayment assistance, and mortgage insurance may be suspended.
In Connecticut, these revitalization areas include Ansonia, Bridgeport, Danbury, Derby, East Hartford, Groton, Hartford, Manchester, Mansfield, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford, Torrington, Windham and Waterbury.
The Lender you choose can give you more information about the details, costs, benefits and downsides of a CHFA mortgage. Click for a List of Participating CHFA Lenders