# The HELPER Act: Making Homeownership Easier for First Responders and Teachers

This bill creates a special mortgage program designed to help police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and teachers buy homes with little to no money down. Right now, most first-time homebuyers need to save up a down payment of 3 to 20 percent of the home's price before they can get a mortgage. This bill removes that barrier for people in these professions by allowing them to borrow up to 100 percent of the home's cost, meaning they could potentially buy a house without saving any money upfront.

To qualify for this program, you'd need to be a full-time law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or teacher at a public or private school. You'd also need to have worked in one of these jobs for at least four consecutive years before applying, or if you've had to leave due to an injury from your work, you could still qualify. You'd have to certify that you plan to keep working in your field for at least another year and that you're in good standing with your employer—meaning you're not under investigation or on probation.

The mortgage insurance premium (the fee that protects the lender if you can't pay) would be set at 3.6 percent of the loan amount, paid upfront when you close on the home. Unlike regular FHA mortgages, you wouldn't have to pay monthly insurance premiums on top of your regular mortgage payment. The program would only be available for five years unless Congress decides to extend it, and each person could only use this program once in their lifetime. The home you buy would need to be your primary residence—the place where you actually live—and you'd have to confirm that every year.

HELPER Act of 2021

Rutherford, John H.

Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2021 or the HELPER Act of 2021 This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a one-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance premium.