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Owner-Occupant & First-Buyer

Chenoa Fund / CHDAP / State DPA Stack (0% Down Effective)

Stack state/city DPA grants + Chenoa Fund forgivable second on top of FHA to effectively buy with $0 down.

Overview

Chenoa Fund (national) and state/city Down Payment Assistance (CHDAP-CA, TSAHC-TX, SONYMA-NY, MSHDA-MI, etc.) provide 3.5–5% forgivable or deferred second mortgages that cover the FHA down payment. Layer with seller concessions (up to 6% for FHA) and lender credits to close truly $0 out-of-pocket. Forgiveness typically after 36 months of owner-occupancy. Income limits apply (usually 80–140% AMI).

Best fit
First-time buyers with no savingsBuyers under AMI limitsOwner-occupants willing to stay 3+ years
Estimated impact
$10K–$25K down payment + $5K–$10K closing costs covered

Click Generate advisory deep dive for mechanics, IRC citations, a step-by-step execution plan, a worked numeric example on your profile, costs, risks, and this-week actions.

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