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Affordable Mortgage Lending Center

Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide

Last Updated: October 12, 2021

The Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide (Guide) organizes information about programs and products from federal, state, Federal Home Loan Banks, and other sources to expand access to affordable mortgage credit to low- and moderate-income (LMI) people and communities. Institutions can use this Guide as a one-stop resource to gain an overview of a variety of program resources, compare different programs and their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) implications, and help identify the next steps for program participation.

Each program description includes insights into the program’s purpose, technical assistance on how to participate, and identifies potential benefits and challenges for community banks. A quick review of borrower and loan criteria (where applicable) will help you identify whether the affordable home loan program is suitable for a particular client or population that you are trying to serve, such as LMI borrowers or other hard-to-reach populations.

Because borrower and loan criteria, such as income limits, credit scores limits, loan-to-value limits, and debt-to-income ratios, are all subject to change (and in many cases revised annually), the Guide provides the most recent information available. Realizing the need for accurate and timely information, each program description includes a list of web links where updates can be found.

Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide, Part I: Federal Agencies and Government Sponsored Enterprises

Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide, Part II: State Housing Finance Agencies

Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide, Part III: Federal Home Loan Banks

The FDIC does not endorse the programs described in the Affordable Mortgage Lending Center or any particular approach to their use. The overviews and program information included are designed to illustrate the broad range of options available to financial institutions. Each institution is responsible for assessing whether the resources presented are appropriate for the bank to pursue given factors such as the institution's existing mortgage, Community Reinvestment Act, or community development strategies, as well as business focus, financial condition, and market.