The Mortgage Outlet's High Cost Area Purchase Program offers agency credits for interest rate buydowns.

This program helps moderate-income and first time homebuyers by expanding access to affordable, sustainable homeownership in high cost areas.

About This Program

To promote sustainable and equitable access to affordable housing, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced targeted changes to Government-Sponsored Enterprises’ (GSEs’) purchase mortgage pricing on October 24, 2022, eliminating loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs) for certain borrowers and affordable mortgage products.

Lender Letter LL-2022-05, originally published on November 5, 2022, outlines the implementation of FHFA-directed changes to GSEs’ loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs) through the launch of four new programs, including the High Cost Area Purchase Program.

Each year, the FHFA provides GSEs with a dataset of every U.S. census tract, including its High Cost Area designation and Area Median Income (AMI) limits—both used to determine borrower eligibility for the High Cost Area Purchase Program.

Program Requirements

Standard conventional underwriting guidelines apply, along with the following two additional requirements.

First Time Homebuyer

At least one borrower with no homeownership in the past 3 years.

Income Limit

Total qualifying income must be at or be 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

California Has the Most High Cost Areas and Highest Area Median Income Limits

Santa Clara
San Francisco
Oakland
Fremont
Hayward
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara
Concord
Berkeley
Santa Clara
San Francisco
Oakland
Fremont
Hayward
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara
Concord
Berkeley
Los Angeles
Long Beach
Santa Clarita
Glendale
Lancaster
Palmdale
Pomona
Torrance
Pasadena
Los Angeles
Long Beach
Santa Clarita
Glendale
Lancaster
Palmdale
Pomona
Torrance
Pasadena
San Diego
Chula Vista
Oceanside
Escondido
Carlsbad
El Cajon
Richmond
Antioch
Downey
San Diego
Chula Vista
Oceanside
Escondido
Carlsbad
El Cajon
Richmond
Antioch
Downey
Licensing

Mortgage Only, Inc. d/b/a The Mortgage Outlet

NMLS #1609505
CA: DBO Finance Lenders Law License #60DBO74297
CA: BRE Real Estate Corporation License #02029792
CO: Mortgage Company Registration
OR: Mortgage Lender License #ML-5573
WA: Mortgage Broker License #MB-1609505

http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

The Mortgage Outlet - 2025. All Rights Reserved.

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