Assistance program · Hawaii
Down Payment Loan Program
City and County of Honolulu loan, with federal HOME funds, of up to $40,000 at 0% and with no fees, for the down payment only, repaid over 20 years; for first-time buyers on Oʻahu with incomes up to 80% of the area median who put down at least 5% of the price
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to $40,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Repayable
- Second loan with monthly payments
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with monthly payments
Only in: Honolulu County
What it gives
Up to $40,000
Source text
It provides down payment assistance with a $40,000, 0% interest rate loan. Borrowers are required to contribute a minimum of 5% of the sales price. … This 2nd mortgage loan must be used as additional down payment towards the sales price. It cannot be used for any other purpose related to the purchase transaction. … Borrowers may be eligible for Owner Occupancy Credit up to $20,000 after completion of the 10 year affordability period as stated in the HOME Program Recapture Agreement. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
This program assists first-time homebuyers with a household income of up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for O’ahu. - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies Honolulu County
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Honolulu County
These are the official figures for the area the program covers. Use them to compare the price of the home you want and your household income with the program's limits.
The typical home value ($897,500) is higher than Honolulu County's FHA limit ($828,000). An FHA loan cannot go above that limit.
The program uses 80% of area median income (AMI). HUD publishes a median family income of $133,400 for Honolulu County.
| Figure | Honolulu County | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $897,500 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $828,000 | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $1,249,125 | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $123,200 | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. Hawaii has 17 agencies on HUD's list, and 2 serve people in Spanish.
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Apply with City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services. Its page explains whether you apply directly or through a participating lender.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 7 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- What rate and monthly payment does the second loan have?
Against the others
How it compares with Hawaii's other programs
The 2 programs we checked in Hawaii, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 2 programs in Hawaii, out of 2, that require being a first-time buyer. It is the only one that publishes an amount with the figure in its own wording. It is the only program in Hawaii on our list with "repayable" help. It is the only local program on the list; the others cover the whole state. It is the only one that requires a homebuyer course.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down Payment Loan Programthis program | Repayable | Up to $40,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Honolulu County |
| Hale Kamaʻāina Mortgage Program | Type not stated | Not published | Yes | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.