HDF offers free homeownership counseling, homebuyer education classes, down payment and closing cost loan programs to first time homebuyers looking to buy a home in Connecticut or New York.

View our eligibility criteria, requirements, and income eligibility: https://hdfconnects.org/eligibility-requirements/

Income eligibility is based on household income, income of all adults who will live in the new home. A first-time homebuyer is someone who is buying a home for the first time or who has not owned a home in the last three years.

All HDF products are loans that must be paid back. Some products require monthly payments, while others are deferred and due when you sell, transfer the title of the property, refinance or payoff your first mortgage.

Depending on the loan products chosen, clients may need to contribute 1-3% of the purchase price; pay for the appraisal, inspections, closing costs, and have some reserve funds remaining after closing. HDF SmartMove funds can be used for up to 25% of the purchase price while a first mortgage lending partner can lend up to the remaining 80%.

The FTHB program has 2 components: counseling and lending. All HDF clients must complete the counseling requirements, before applying for an HDF loan product. Once a client submits the required documents, they will be assigned a homeownership counselor who will determine eligibility and mortgage readiness.
Here you will find our Orientation Video as well as instructions on how to apply to our FTHB program.

Yes! You can work remotely with a homeownership counselor. Start by creating your portal account and choose the remote counseling option. You can complete counseling and homebuyer education classes online.

For your convenience, HDF also has partnerships with a number of local housing counseling agencies. If you prefer, you can complete counseling and education with an HDF partner and still use HDF’s lending services.

Contact your preferred agency and explain that you are interested in using HDF’s lending products. To view a map with all of our partners, please click here to view a list of all our partners.

• Last three years of federal tax returns signed for the applicant and coapplicant and their spouses (if any). Include all schedules.

• W2 for the last three years for the applicant and coapplicant (If any). If self employed, submit the 1099’s for the past three years (If any)
• Intake Form (IEP) needs to be filled out. Once you create a portal account, you will be able to fill it out electronically
• 2 most recent paystubs for the applicant, coapplicant and everyone in the household 18 years or older
• If receiving Social Security benefits, submit award letter for current year
• If receiving pension, child support or other income; verification of income received in the past 4 weeks.
• Copy of ID for the applicant and coapplicant.
• Pay for your credit report at hdfconnects.org/credit-report/

The length of the process largely depends on how quickly you can respond to our process requirements.
You must complete the counseling process before you can apply for lending products. Your file is not assigned to a counselor until all documents are submitted. Once that is done, your counselor will assess your eligibility and readiness and will contact you within 10-15 business days.
Homebuyer Education is required prior to closing (6-8 hour Homebuyer class, Landlord class, etc.) and your schedule will determine when to complete it.
The loan application & lending process begins once the counseling process is completed. The lending process is usually completed in 30 days.

Yes. Most HDF borrowers use our SmartMove loan product. This can be combined with many of our other products, depending on your situation and eligibility.
Once you’ve created a profile on our online customer portal, you’ll schedule your first counseling session. Your homeownership counselor will let you know for which programs you might qualify and whether would benefit from layering loan products in your financing structure.

You can pay online by using our convenient payment options. Pay for your Credit Report.

Yes. HDF will make every effort to work with you, even with a more aggressive timeline.
Please create a profile on our online customer portal as soon as possible, AND use the “Residential Lending” option on our contact form to notify us of your status.

You will still need to complete the homeownership counseling and education process. In the case that your offer is not accepted, or you choose not to continue with the purchase, please continue the process with HDF. The next time you put in an offer, so you will be ahead of the process as you continue to move forward.