How to Avoid Down Payment Assistance Scams

Real down payment assistance comes from state and local housing agencies, nonprofits, and their participating lenders. Be careful with anyone who:

• Charges an upfront fee to "unlock" a grant or guarantee approval.
• Claims to be from HUD or "the government" and contacts you out of the blue.
• Asks you to wire money or pay with gift cards.
• Won't give you the name of the agency that runs the program.

How to check a program

Find the program on the agency's own website (every listing here links to one), and call the agency at the number on its official site. You can report fraud to the FTC ↗.