“At Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, we are committed to providing programs that cater to First-Time Homebuyers and Low-to-Moderate Income Buyers. Fairway is a National Lender that offers a variety of programs and down payment assistance options. Having one centralized place to access multiple state housing finance agency guidelines is beneficial. HFA1 is a great tool that can help Mortgage Lenders stay informed.” |  |
About the HFA1 Lender Toolkit
State housing finance agencies (HFAs) are primary sources of funding and down payment assistance (DPA) for low-income home buyers everywhere in the country. In 2023, HFAs financed more than 135,100 first-lien single-family mortgage loans, and DPA continues to be a critical component of HFAs’ single-family home loan programs. In 2023, 75 percent of HFA program borrowers received DPA.
HFAs are always looking for ways to make it easier for mortgage lenders of all kinds to participate in their programs to reach more underserved borrowers. To this end, the National Council of State Housing Agencies and 32 of its member state HFAs developed two free digital tools that enable lenders to partner more easily with HFAs in providing affordable home mortgage loans and down payment assistance to lower-income home buyers. The tools identify key features of these HFA homeownership programs and reflect substantial progress by a growing number of agencies to align elements of their programs to support more efficient program participation by multi-state lenders.
By using the HFA1 Lender Toolkit, lenders serving one or more of the 32 participating state markets can:
- Understand the key features of the aligned homeownership program in each state;
- Assess opportunities to more efficiently participate in those programs; and
- More easily serve lower-income home buyers across multiple states.
The HFA in each of the participating states — Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia — has aligned one if its affordable mortgage programs with that of the other participating states.
About the Tools
in the state HFA’s column.
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Future Updates and Communications
NCSHA will update these tools periodically. Participating HFAs may notify lenders directly of changes to their program at any time. NCSHA encourages interested lenders to communicate with HFA participants directly.
The next regular update is expected in late Winter 2026.
To receive communications about other NCSHA programs and events, please sign up here.
Acknowledgments
These tools were developed through a collaboration of the National Council of State Housing Agencies and the Mortgage Bankers Association and leading members of each organization, along with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and other industry organizations. Initial development funding for the toolkit was provided by Wells Fargo. Specialty Mortgage Product Solutions provided technical support.
Participating States as of September 15, 2025:
HFA1 Aligned States are presented in green ( 
).
“As a longtime lending partner of state housing finance agencies around the country, Guild Mortgage sees significant potential to expand affordable mortgage financing opportunities for more lower-income borrowers through these tools.” |  |
Note to Home Buyers, Homeowners, and Those Seeking Housing Assistance:
The tools described on this page are designed for use by mortgage lending professionals. To learn more about your state HFA and the programs it offers and to get answers to your housing finance questions, visit Find a State Housing Finance Agency.
Other Related Resources
- Standardized Subordinate Lien Documents | Freddie Mac
- Standardized Subordinate Documents | Fannie Mae
Disclaimer and Terms of Use
NCSHA is providing the HFA1 Affordable Homeownership Lender Toolkit, or the tools described on this page, as a free online service to lenders interested in accessing the affordable mortgage loan programs of multiple state housing finance agencies (HFAs). The information contained on this page and in the downloadable materials is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy securities. NCSHA does not provide investment advice, and these HFA1 Affordable Homeownership Lender Toolkit materials are not to be construed as a recommendation to engage in a transaction with a particular party.
The information contained in each HFA1 Lender Toolkit resource is based solely on information provided to NCSHA by the state HFA, and NCSHA is not responsible for any inaccurate or out-of-date information in these worksheets. Companies utilizing these tools are solely responsible for obtaining necessary clearances from their compliance departments.
The information in each HFA1 Lender Toolkit resource is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. NCSHA does not accept responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, or reliability of the information contained herein.
NCSHA will not be liable for any loss or damage that may arise as a result of the use of the information contained herein. Each HFA1 Lender Toolkit tool provides direct links to websites owned by other parties. The content of such sites is not within NCSHA’s control; NCSHA cannot take responsibility for the information or content thereon.
