Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§12713 Eligibility under first-time homebuyer programs

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 130— - NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS AND POLICIES › § 12713

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal first-time homebuyer programs must not deny someone just because, while they were a homemaker, they owned a home with their spouse or lived in a home owned by their spouse. The same rule applies to single parents who, while married, owned a home with a spouse or lived in a spouse-owned home. Displaced homemaker: an adult who did not work full-time, full-year for a number of years because they cared for the home and family without pay, and who is now unemployed or underemployed and struggling to find or improve work. First-time homebuyer: someone who never had, or has not had during a set time, any ownership interest in a main home. Single parent: an unmarried or legally separated person who has custody or joint custody of one or more minor children, or who is pregnant. This rule applies to any federal first-time homebuyer program unless a law changes this part or specifically exempts the program.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §12713

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)No individual who is a displaced homemaker may be denied eligibility under any Federal program to assist first-time homebuyers on the basis that the individual, while a homemaker, owned a home with his or her spouse or resided in a home owned by the spouse.
(2)No individual who is a single parent may be denied eligibility under any Federal program to assist first-time homebuyers on the basis that the individual, while married, owned a home with his or her spouse or resided in a home owned by the spouse.
(b)For purposes of this section:
(1)The term “displaced homemaker” means an individual who—
(A)is an adult;
(B)has not worked full-time, full-year in the labor force for a number of years but has, during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family; and
(C)is unemployed or underemployed and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment.
(2)The term “first-time homebuyer” means an individual who has never, or has not during a specified period of time, had any present ownership interest in a principal residence.
(3)The term “single parent” means an individual who—
(A)is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse; and
(B)(i)has 1 or more minor children for whom the individual has custody or joint custody; or
(ii)is pregnant.
(c)This section shall apply to any Federal program to assist first-time homebuyers, unless the program is exempted from this section by a statute that amends this subsection or explicitly refers to this subsection.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of title IX of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, and not as part of title I of such Act which comprises this subchapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 12713

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73