# 119-s-967: Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 119-s-967, Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-30). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-967 - As of: 2026-10-30 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-967 - Congress: 119 - Title: Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-03-11 - Sponsor: Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA) - Cosponsors: 6 - Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-10-30 ## Summary **This bill would create a federal grant program to give downpayment assistance to first-generation homebuyers and target long-running racial and multigenerational gaps in homeownership.** It sets rules for who qualifies, how funds are allocated, and protections to promote fair housing and data transparency. - Families and first-generation homebuyers: Would fund downpayments, closing costs, interest-rate reductions, shared-equity subsidies, and pre-occupancy disability modifications for eligible buyers. Assistance is limited to the greater of $20,000 or 10% of the purchase price and can be increased for socially and economically disadvantaged buyers or in high-cost areas. - States and community lenders: Would send 75% of funds to States via a formula and 25% to eligible entities (minority depository institutions, certified community development financial institutions, mission-driven nonprofits, and local governments). States must administer the program through housing finance agencies or similar bodies and follow an affirmatively furthering fair housing standard. - Program rules and safeguards: Would require pre-purchase counseling and set aside at least 5% of funds for counseling, allow self-attestation of first-generation status with creditor good-faith reliance, impose prorated repayment if the buyer fails to occupy the home up to 5 years with hardship exceptions, and require annual, disaggregated reporting to monitor equitable outcomes. *If enacted, this bill would authorize $100 billion for grants, available until expended, increasing federal outlays.* ## Cosponsors (6) - Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-06-11T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - How much help and loan rules: benefit, high. If enacted, each qualified homebuyer could receive a one‑time award capped at the greater of $20,000 or 10% of the purchase price. The Secretary could raise those caps for socially or economically disadvantaged buyers or in high‑cost areas. Grant help must be attached to eligible mortgage loans, li… - Large downpayment grants for first-generation buyers: benefit, high. This bill would create a new HUD program with $100 billion for grants to help first‑generation homebuyers. After certain reservations, 75% of funds would go to States by formula and 25% would be awarded competitively to local mission-driven groups. Grants could pay downpayments, closing costs, inte… - Repaying assistance if you move: cost, high. If enacted, you would generally have to repay a prorated share of assistance if you stop living in the assisted home as your primary residence. Repayment is prorated over five years, and living in the home for five continuous years avoids repayment. Hardship exceptions and certain low‑gain sales wi… - State administration, reporting, and enforcement: mixed, high. This bill would make States run the program through their housing agencies and allow contracting with nonprofits and HUD‑approved counselors. The Secretary would set uniform rules and could recapture or reallocate funds if grantees cannot spend money timely or if distribution leaves historically di… - Who qualifies and income limits: mixed, medium. If enacted, you would qualify only if you meet the Act's first‑generation or first‑time buyer rules and the household income limits. Normally the income cap is 120% of area median income, and it would be 140% in Secretary‑designated high‑cost areas. The bill would let buyers self‑attest to first‑ti… - Required homebuying counseling and funding: mixed, low. If enacted, you would generally need to complete HUD‑approved housing counseling before signing a purchase contract or applying for an eligible mortgage to get help. Counseling must cover fair housing rights and post‑purchase options. If counseling is not available within 30 days, alternative educa… ## Related bills - 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 - 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act - 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026 - 119-s-1503: Equality Act - 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 - 119-s-422: Right to Contraception Act ## Sources - [119-s-967 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/967) ## Related - [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066) - [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51) - [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108) - [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503) - [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150) - [119-s-422: Right to Contraception Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-422) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-967 (as of 2026-10-30).