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HR 5889 97th Congress House

First-time Homeowners Opportunity Act

Official title: A bill to provide assistance to individuals and families purchasing a residence for the first time.

Introduced: April 29, 1982 See on congress.gov
Housing and Community Development Department of the TreasuryFederal aid to housingGovernment trust fundsHome ownership
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Housing and Housing FinanceHousing subsidiesMortgages
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 1, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development.
Mar 18, 1982
Referred to House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs.
Mar 18, 1982
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 1, 1982

Referred to Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

First-Time Homeowners Opportunity Act - Amends the National Housing Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to enter into ten-year contracts to make periodic assistance payments on behalf of homeowners to mortgagees or other lenders holding mortgages. Permits payments to be made only on behalf of a homeowner who satisfies certain creditworthiness requirements and who: (1) has not owned a dwelling within the preceding three years; and (2) has a family income not exceeding 130 percent of the statewide median income. Authorizes the Secretary to make assistance payments to a lender only while the homeowner occupies the property secured by the mortgage unless the mortgage has been assigned to the Secretary. Limits the mortgage assistance payments to an amount not exceeding the lesser of: (1) the balance of the monthly payment due under the mortgage after applying a minimum 30 per centum of the mortgagor's income; or (2) the difference between the amount of the monthly payment which would be required if the mortgage were a level payment mortgage bearing the maximum interest rate applicable to federally insured mortgages and the monthly payment the mortgagor would pay if the mortgage were bearing nine and one-half per cent interest.

Authorizes the Secretary to insure a mortgage secured by a mortgagor who qualifies for such assistance. Lists the eligibility requirements for such insurance.

Directs the Secretary to insure, to the extent practicable, mortgages secured by single family residences that contribute to land and energy conservation.

Directs the Secretary to develop a system to allocate assistance among the various regions of the country.

Provides, upon the disposition by the homeowner of any property assisted pursuant to this Act, for the recapture of an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the amount of assistance received; or (2) at least 50 percent of the net appreciation of the property. Creates a fund into which recaptured amounts shall be deposited. Prohibits payments on behalf of any mortgagor from exceeding ten years, unless the mortgagor is unable to assume full mortgage payments. Requires the Secretary, in such a case, to continue assistance by utilizing the fund.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5889: First-time Homeowners Opportunity Act. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5889/
MLA
"H.R. 5889: First-time Homeowners Opportunity Act." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5889/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5889, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5889/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5889: First-time Homeowners Opportunity Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5889/)
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