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1-877-634-3642 1-877-NEHEMIAH	What is The Nehemiah Program ^®? Can we use The Nehemiah Program to help payoff a homebuyer's debt as well as for downpayment? What is a "Nehemiah Participating Home?" Doesn't the seller basically pay the homebuyer's downpayment? What are the basic program requirements? Are there any program restrictions for homebuyers? Is the contribution that the seller pays to Nehemiah considered a charitable donation for tax purposes? How can you afford to give away money? How can it be a gift when the seller increases the sales price of the home? Can any real estate agent utilize The Nehemiah Program, and what properties can be sold to Nehemiah homebuyers? Why and how do sellers agree to make their homes "Nehemiah Participating Properties?" Can any mortgage originator utilize The Nehemiah Program? Do Nehemiah transactions take longer to close/settle? If I refinance my existing home loan can I get Nehemiah gift funds? Do I have to repay the gift? How can I get started using The Nehemiah Program today? What is The Nehemiah Program ^®? The Nehemiah Program provides gift funds for downpayment and closing costs to qualified homebuyers using an eligible loan program, such as FHA or a conventional loan that allows gifts from charitable organizations. Gift Funds of 1% to 6% of the final contract sales price can be received, depending on the particular needs of the homebuyer. Can we use The Nehemiah Program to help payoff a homebuyer's debt as well as for downpayment? No, you may not use Nehemiah gift funds to payoff homebuyer debt. According to HUD guidelines, gift funds cannot be used to pay off homebuyers' consumer debt. Gift monies can be used to pay downpayment and closing costs. What is a "Nehemiah Participating Home?" Any residential property can be purchased using The Nehemiah Program as long as the seller agrees to the Nehemiah participation requirements. Both new and existing homes can be purchased using this program. In exchange for helping the seller find a qualified homebuyer, the seller agrees to make a contribution to Nehemiah of 1% to 6% of the final contract sales price, plus pay a nominal processing fee. Doesn't the seller basically pay the homebuyer's downpayment? No, the contribution paid by the home seller is not used for the homebuyer's downpayment assistance. Nehemiah provides the gift funds to the homebuyer from a pre-existing pool of funds, and wires it to the closing/settlement company before the loan is closed. The seller pays a contribution to Nehemiah only after the loan has successfully closed. The contribution collected from the seller replenishes Nehemiah's pool of funds for future gifts to other homebuyers. What are the basic program requirements? There are 4 basic program requirements: Both the homebuyer and seller must agree to participate in the Nehemiah Program, Homebuyer must use an eligible single-family 1-4 unit loan program such as an FHA loan or a conventional loan that allows gifts from charitable organizations, Homebuyer must purchase a Nehemiah participating home, Homebuyer must be the primary occupant of the property (non-occupant co-borrower(s) may assist primary occupant to qualify for the mortgage). Are there any program restrictions for homebuyers? There are NO income, asset, or geographical restrictions. And, the program is not restricted to only first-time homebuyers. The Nehemiah Program does require that the homebuyer who receives the downpayment assistance is the primary occupant of the property. Is the contribution that the seller pays to Nehemiah considered a charitable donation for tax purposes? No, the seller contribution that is paid to Nehemiah is NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution because the seller derives the full benefit of the contribution through the sale of a home. However, this contribution may be tax deductible as a cost of sale, similar to that of a sales commission. Nehemiah recommends that sellers contact their personal tax advisor for questions regarding tax deductibility. How can you afford to give away money? We have a pool of funds that comes from contributions and processing fees that are paid by the homebuyers, lenders, builders and sellers who use our program. How can it be a gift when the seller increases the sales price of the home? This is not how The Nehemiah Program works. The sales price of the home must always be supported by an appraised value. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the sales price of the home, please contact your lender. Can any real estate agent utilize The Nehemiah Program, and what properties can be sold to Nehemiah homebuyers? Any real estate professional can use The Nehemiah Program. There are no enrollment or registration requirements. Properties sold to Nehemiah homebuyers are financed with a mortgage loan that allows gift money from a charitable organization. Typically the mortgage loan is an FHA or a conventional loan that allows gifts from charitable organizations. Why and how do sellers agree to make their homes "Nehemiah Participating Properties?" The Nehemiah Program makes homeownership available to the largest pool of homebuyers in every market in the nation. Being able to market your listings, as "Free Gift Money Available - Zero Total Cash Can Move You In" will greatly increase the exposure of your property listings. Sellers benefit with more qualified showings from pre-approved prospects. This usually results in a faster sale, usually at full price! Can any mortgage originator utilize The Nehemiah Program? Yes, any mortgage originator can use The Nehemiah Program. Mortgage originators must use an eligible single-family 1-4 unit loan program such as an FHA or a conventional loan product that allows gifts from charitable organizations. Do Nehemiah transactions take longer to close/settle? No, Nehemiah transactions do not take longer to close/settle. Mortgage lenders process and underwrite the loan the same way regardless of the source of gift money. Mortgage lenders request Nehemiah Gift Funds on behalf of the homebuyer, and provide simple closing instructions to the closing office. Nehemiah professionals do the rest - it's that simple! If I refinance my existing home loan can I get Nehemiah gift funds? No, you may not receive Nehemiah gift funds when you refinance your existing home loan. The Nehemiah Program provides gift funds to assist people in obtaining homeownership. Do I have to repay the gift? No. The gift funds are free monies offered by Nehemiah to qualified homebuyers requiring no repayment, no silent second mortgage, and no re-capture penalties. The money given to the homebuyer is a true gift. How can I get started using The Nehemiah Program today? You can get started by visiting our website at www.getdownpayment.com, or by calling our Customer Service department at 1-877-634-3642 - that's 1-877-NEHEMIAH. Our professional customer service specialists are available to help you Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST. Download printable .pdf version of Frequently Asked Questions