Native American housing loans now require borrowers to live in the US

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) changed the rules for its Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program. Borrowers must now be US citizens or permanent residents to qualify for these government-backed home loans. This change aligns the program with recent executive orders that prioritize federal resources for US citizens.

This rule change means that Native Americans living abroad can no longer access a key federal program designed to help them buy homes. The Section 184 program has been a vital tool for increasing homeownership in Native American communities, offering low down payments and flexible underwriting. This new residency requirement narrows the pool of eligible borrowers, potentially impacting those who have lived or worked outside the US.