SUBCHAPTER III—NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP TRUST DEMONSTRATION

§12851. National Homeownership Trust

(a) Establishment

There is established the National Homeownership Trust, which shall be in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and shall provide assistance to first-time homebuyers in accordance with this subchapter.

(b) Board of Directors

The Trust shall be governed by a Board of Directors, which shall be composed of—

(1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who shall be the chairperson of the Board;

(2) the Secretary of the Treasury;

(3) the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;

(4) the chairperson of the Federal Housing Finance Board;

(5) the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal National Mortgage Association;

(6) the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; and

(7) 1 individual representing consumer interests, who shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(c) Powers of Trust

The Trust shall have the same powers as the powers given the Government National Mortgage Association in section 1723a(a) of title 12.

(d) Travel and per diem

Members of the Board of Directors shall receive no additional compensation by reason of service on the Board, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as provided for employees of the Federal Government or in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed under section 5703 of title 5, as appropriate.

(e) Director and staff

(1) Director

The Board of Directors may appoint an executive director of the Trust and fix the compensation of the executive director, which shall be paid from amounts in the National Homeownership Trust Fund.

(2) Staff

Subject to such rules as the Board of Directors may prescribe, the Trust may appoint and hire such staff and provide for offices as may be necessary to carry out its duties. The Trust may fix the compensation of the staff, which shall be paid from amounts in the National Homeownership Trust Fund.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §302, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4129.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

For short title of this subchapter as the "National Homeownership Trust Act", see Short Title note set out under section 12701 of this title.

§12852. Assistance for first-time homebuyers

(a) In general

The Trust shall provide assistance payments for first-time homebuyers (including homebuyers buying shares in limited equity cooperatives) in the following manners:

(1) Interest rate buydowns

Assistance payments so that the rate of interest payable on the mortgages by the homebuyers does not exceed 6 percent.

(2) Downpayment assistance

Assistance payments to provide amounts for downpayments (including closing costs and other costs payable at the time of closing) on mortgages for such homebuyers.

(3) Assistance in connection with mortgage revenue bonds financing

Interest rate buydowns and downpayment assistance in the manner provided in subsection (e).

(4) Second mortgage assistance

Assistance payments to provide loans (secured by second mortgages) with deferred payment of interest and principal; and ¹

(5) Capitalization of revolving loan funds

Grants to public organizations or agencies to establish revolving loan funds to provide homeownership assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers consistent with the requirements of this subchapter. Such grants shall be matched by an equal amount of local investment in such revolving loan funds. Any proceeds or repayments from loans made under this paragraph shall be returned to the revolving loan fund established under this paragraph to be used for purposes related to this section.

(b) Eligibility requirements

Assistance payments under this subchapter may be made only to homebuyers and for mortgages meeting the following requirements:

(1) First-time homebuyer

The homebuyer is an individual who—

(A) (and whose spouse) has had no ownership in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase of the property with respect to which assistance payments are made under this subchapter;

(B) is a displaced homemaker who, except for owning a home with his or her spouse or residing in a home owned by the spouse, meets the requirements of subparagraph (A);

(C) is a single parent who, except for owning a home with his or her spouse or residing in a home owned by the spouse while married, meets the requirements of subparagraph (A); or

(D) meets the requirements of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), except for owning, as a principal residence, a dwelling unit whose structure is—

(i) not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with local or other applicable regulations; or

(ii) not in compliance with State, local, or model building codes, or other applicable codes, and cannot be brought into compliance with such codes for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure.

(2) Maximum income of homebuyer

The aggregate annual income of the homebuyer and the members of the family of the homebuyer residing with the homebuyer, for the 12-month period preceding the date of the application of the homebuyer for assistance under this subchapter, does not exceed—

(A) 95 percent of the median income for a family of 4 persons (adjusted by family size) in the applicable metropolitan statistical area (or such other area that the Board of Directors determines for areas outside of metropolitan statistical areas); or

(B) 115 percent of such median income (adjusted by family size) in the case of an area that is subject to a high cost area mortgage limit under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.].

The Board of Directors shall provide for certification of such income for purposes of initial eligibility for assistance payments under this subchapter and shall provide for recertification of homebuyers (and families of homebuyers) so assisted not less than every 2 years thereafter.

(3) Certification

The homebuyer (and spouse, where applicable) shall certify that the homebuyer has made a good faith effort to obtain a market rate mortgage and has been denied because the annual income of the homebuyer and the members of the family of the homebuyer residing with the homebuyer is insufficient.

(4) Principal residence

The property securing the mortgage is a single-family residence or unit in a cooperative and is the principal residence of the homebuyer.

(5) Maximum mortgage amount

The principal obligation of the mortgage does not exceed the principal amount that could be insured with respect to the property under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.].

(6) Maximum interest rate

The interest payable on the mortgage is established at a fixed rate that does not exceed a maximum rate of interest established by the Trust taking into consideration prevailing interest rates on similar mortgages.

(7) Responsible mortgagee

The mortgage has been made to, and is held by, a mortgagee that is federally insured or that is otherwise approved by the Trust as responsible and able to service the mortgage properly.

(8) Minimum downpayment

For a first-time homebuyer to receive downpayment assistance under subsection (a)(2), the homebuyer shall have paid not less than 1 percent of the cost of acquisition of the property (excluding any mortgage insurance premium paid at the time the mortgage is insured), as such cost is estimated by the Board of Directors.

(c) Terms of assistance

(1) Security

Assistance payments under this subchapter shall be secured by a lien on the property involved. The lien shall be subordinate to all mortgages existing on the property on the date on which the first assistance payment is made.

(2) Repayment upon sale

Assistance payments under this subchapter shall be repayable from the net proceeds of the sale, without interest, upon the sale of the property for which the assistance payments are made. If the sale results in no net proceeds or the net proceeds are insufficient to repay the amount of the assistance payments in full, the Board of Directors shall release the lien to the extent that the debt secured by the lien remains unpaid.

(3) Repayment upon increased income

If the aggregate annual income of the homebuyer (and family of the homebuyer) assisted under this subchapter exceeds the applicable maximum income allowable under subsection (b)(2) for any 2-year period after such assistance is provided, the Board of Directors may provide for the repayment, on a monthly basis, of all or a portion of such assistance payments, based on the amount of assistance provided and the income of the homebuyer (and family of the homebuyer).

(4) Repayment if property ceases to be principal residence

If the property for which assistance payments are made ceases to be the principal residence of the first-time homebuyer (or the family of the homebuyer), the Board of Directors may provide for the repayment of all or a portion of the assistance payments.

(5) Available assistance

The Trust may make assistance payments under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) with respect to a single mortgage of an eligible homebuyer.

(d) Allocation formula

Amounts available in any fiscal year for assistance under this subchapter shall be allocated for homebuyers in each State on the basis of the need of eligible first-time homebuyers in each State for such assistance in comparison with the need of eligible first-time homebuyers for such assistance among all States.

(e) Assistance in connection with housing financed with mortgage revenue bonds

(1) Authority

The Trust shall provide assistance for first-time homebuyers in the form of interest rate buydowns and downpayment assistance under this subsection. Such assistance shall be available only with respect to mortgages for the purchase of residences (A) financed with the proceeds of a qualified mortgage bond (as such term is defined in section 143 of title 26), or (B) for which a credit is allowable under section 25 of title 26.

(2) Eligibility

To be eligible for assistance under this subsection, homebuyers and mortgages shall also meet the requirements under subsection (b) of this section, except that—

(A) the certification under subsection (b)(3) shall not be required for assistance under this subsection;

(B) the provisions of subsection (b)(2) shall not apply to assistance under this section; and

(C) the aggregate income of the homebuyer and the members of the family of the homebuyer residing with the homebuyer, for the 12-month period preceding the date of the application of the homebuyer for assistance under this subsection, shall not exceed 80 percent of the median income for a family of 4 persons (as adjusted for family size) in the applicable metropolitan statistical area.

(3) Limitation of assistance

Notwithstanding subsection (a), assistance payments for first-time homebuyers under this subsection shall be provided in the following manners:

(A) Interest rate buydowns

Assistance payments to decrease the rate of interest payable on the mortgages by the homebuyers, in an amount not exceeding—

(i) in the first year of the mortgage, 2.0 percent of the total principal obligation of the mortgage;

(ii) in the second year of the mortgage, 1.5 percent of the total principal obligation of the mortgage;

(iii) in the third year of the mortgage, 1.0 percent of the total principal obligation of the mortgage; and

(iv) in the fourth year of the mortgage, 0.5 percent of the total principal obligation of the mortgage.

(B) Downpayment assistance

Assistance payments to provide amounts for downpayments on mortgages by the homebuyers, in an amount not exceeding 2.5 percent of the principal obligation of the mortgage.

(3) ² Availability

The Trust may make assistance payments under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) with respect to a single mortgage of a homebuyer.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §303, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4130; Pub. L. 102–550, title I, §182(c)–(e), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3737, 3738.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Housing Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B), (5), is act June 27, 1934, ch. 847, 48 Stat. 1246, which is classified principally to chapter 13 (§1701 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. Title II of the Act is classified principally to subchapter II (§1707 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 12. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1701 of Title 12 and Tables.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–550, §182(c)(2), added par. (3).

Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 102–550, §182(e), added pars. (4) and (5).

Subsec. (b)(1)(D). Pub. L. 102–550, §182(d), added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–550, §182(c)(1), added subsec. (e).

¹ So in original. The "; and" probably should be a period.

² So in original. Probably should be "(4)".

§12853. National Homeownership Trust Fund

(a) Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the National Homeownership Trust Fund.

(b) Assets

The Fund shall consist of—

(1) any amount approved in appropriation Acts under section 12857 of this title for purposes of carrying out this subchapter;

(2) any amount received by the Trust as repayment for payments made under this subchapter; and

(3) any amount received by the Trust under subsection (d).

(c) Use of amounts

The Fund shall, to the extent approved in appropriations Acts, be available to the Trust for purposes of carrying out this subchapter.

(d) Investment of excess amounts

Any amounts in the Fund determined by the Trust to be in excess of the amounts currently required to carry out the provisions of this subchapter shall be invested by the Trust in obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to both principal and interest by, the United States or any agency of the United States.

(e) Demonstration programs

Using not more than $20,000,000 of any amounts appropriated for the Fund under section 12857 of this title in fiscal year 1991, the Secretary shall carry out demonstration programs for combining housing activities and economic development activities, as follows:

(1) In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in an amount not to exceed $4,200,000, for development, rehabilitation, and revitalization of 2 vacant structures in a blighted minority neighborhood.

(2) In Washington, District of Columbia, in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, for nonprofit neighborhood-based groups to acquire and rehabilitate vacant public and private housing for resale or rent to low- and moderate-income families and to the extent of and subject to engage in neighborhood-based economic development activities.

(3) In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for technical assistance and organizational support for a community development corporation that is a city-wide public/private partnership engaged in the provision of technical assistance to neighborhood community development corporations.

(4) In other areas, as the Secretary may determine.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §304, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4132.)

§12854. Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) Board of Directors

The term "Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of the National Homeownership Trust under section 12851(b) of this title.

(2) Displaced homemaker

The term "displaced homemaker" means an individual who—

(A) is an adult;

(B) has not worked full-time full-year in the labor force for a number of years, but has during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family; and

(C) is unemployed or underemployed and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment.

(3) Fund

The term "Fund" means the National Homeownership Trust Fund established in section 12853 of this title.

(4) Single parent

The term "single parent" means an individual who—

(A) is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse; and

(B)(i) has 1 or more minor children for whom the individual has custody or joint custody; or

(ii) is pregnant.

(5) State

The term "State" means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

(6) Trust

The term "Trust" means the National Homeownership Trust established in section 12851 of this title.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §305, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4132.)

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

§12855. Regulations

The Board of Directors shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §306, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4133.)

§12856. Report

The Board of Directors shall submit to the Congress, not later than the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the termination of the Trust under section 12859 of this title, a report containing a description of the activities of the Trust and an analysis of the effectiveness of the Trust in assisting first-time homebuyers.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §307, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4133.)

§12857. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for assistance payments under this subchapter $520,665,600 for fiscal year 1993 and $542,533,555 for fiscal year 1994, of which such sums as may be necessary shall be available in each such fiscal year for use under section 12852(e) of this title. Any amount appropriated under this section shall be deposited in the Fund and shall remain available until expended, subject to the provisions of section 12858 ¹ of this title.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §308, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4133; Pub. L. 102–550, title I, §182(b), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3736.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 12858 of this title, referred to in text, was in the original "section 311", and was translated as reading "section 309", meaning section 309 of Pub. L. 101–625, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Pub. L. 101–625 does not contain a section 311.

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–550 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $250,000,000 for fiscal year 1991 and $521,500,000 for fiscal year 1992. Any amount appropriated under this section shall be deposited in the Fund and remain available until expended, subject to the provisions of section 12858 of this title."

¹ See References in Text note below.

§12858. Transition

(a) Authority of Secretary

Upon the termination of the Trust as provided in section 12859 of this title, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall exercise any authority of the Board of Directors and the Trust in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter as may be necessary to provide for the conclusion of the outstanding affairs of the Trust.

(b) Applicability of Trust provisions

Any assistance under this subchapter shall, after termination of the Trust, be subject to the provisions of this subchapter that would have applied to such assistance if the termination had not occurred.

(c) Certification of Fund to Treasury

Upon a determination by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development that the National Homeownership Trust Fund is no longer necessary, the Secretary shall certify any amounts remaining in the Fund to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit into the general fund of the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts any amounts remaining in the Fund.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §309, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4133.)

§12859. Termination

The Trust shall terminate September 30, 1994.

(Pub. L. 101–625, title III, §310, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4133; Pub. L. 102–550, title I, §182(a), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3736.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–550 substituted "September 30, 1994" for "on September 30, 1993".