The Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program is a HUD program created by Congress in 1992 to expand homeownership for American Indian and Alaska Native families. HUD guarantees the loan, which lets approved lenders offer low down payments and flexible underwriting.
Who is eligible
- Enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe, Alaska Native villages, tribes, and tribally designated housing entities.
- The property must be in a county or state HUD has designated as eligible. California and Washington are both participating states.
What the loan can be used for
- Buying an existing home, on or off tribal land.
- New construction, rehabilitation, or purchase plus rehabilitation.
- Refinancing an existing mortgage.
Key terms
- Down payment of 2.25% on loans over $50,000 and 1.25% on smaller loans.
- A one-time guarantee fee and a modest annual fee instead of conventional mortgage insurance.
- Fixed-rate loans only, with manual underwriting that considers the whole file rather than a credit score alone.
Section 184 loans are made through HUD-approved lenders. We can tell you which of our lenders offer the program and walk you through the tribal documentation it requires.