HHFDC Services for Residents
The Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) provides supportive financing pathways, mortgage tax credits, and stabilization relief resources to help Hawaiʻi residents achieve and sustain successful long-term homeownership.
Resource Navigation
Homeowners Programs Overview
The HHFDC Homeowners Programs Overview serves as a central resource hub for residents to explore state-supported financing pathways and essential stabilization relief. This page details specific incentive programs designed to lower purchase barriers—such as equity support and mortgage assistance—while outlining the core eligibility criteria and process steps required to qualify for state-subsidized homeownership opportunities.
Requirements
Purchaser Eligibility
- US Citizen/Legal Resident
- Age 18+
- Hawaii Domicile
- Income Qualified
- No Majority Interest in Real Estate
Process Roadmap
Available Pathways to Homeownership
We offer a variety of state-backed financing and ownership models specifically designed to make purchasing a home in Hawaiʻi more attainable. Whether you are looking for down-payment support, lower mortgage rates, or alternative ownership structures, these programs are here to help you move from renting to owning your own primary residence.
| Available Program Pipeline | Detailed Program Description |
|---|---|
| DURF Equity Pilot | This program provides a zero-percent interest, 30-year deferred second mortgage to help eligible working-class families bridge the gap between their savings and current home prices. It effectively lowers your monthly mortgage burden by reducing the amount of money you need to borrow from a bank. |
| Leasehold Program | This approach removes the cost of the land from your purchase price. You pay for the construction of the home itself, while the state retains ownership of the land. You receive a long-term, 99-year ground lease, making homeownership attainable by removing the high cost of fee-simple land in Hawaiʻi. |
| Hale Kamaʻāina Program | A direct mortgage assistance program that uses tax-exempt bonds to lower your interest rate. By securing a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage significantly lower than current private bank offerings, this program helps families qualify for a home that would otherwise be out of reach. |
| Mortgage Credit Cert (MCC) | This is a federal tax credit that puts cash back in your pocket. It allows qualified first-time buyers to convert a portion of their annual mortgage interest into a dollar-for-dollar reduction of their federal income tax bill, effectively increasing your monthly take-home pay to help maintain your mortgage. |
Property Restrictions
Buyback & Shared Appreciation Equity (SAE)
These are deed restrictions placed on your property when you purchase an affordable housing unit through HHFDC. These terms are conditions of purchase designed to preserve long-term affordability for the community, including a Buyback right for the State of Hawaiʻi and an equity-sharing mechanism to fund future affordable housing.
Foreclosure Prevention & Stability
Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF)
To help existing homeowners retain their primary residences during periods of unexpected financial hardship, HHFDC supports critical housing stability initiatives like the Homeowner Assistance Fund. This program is structured to mitigate community displacements by supplying temporary financial aid to eliminate mortgage delinquencies, address past-due property taxes, or resolve critical utility defaults, providing a vital safety net against foreclosure.
