Can you get paid
to buy a house?
Yes — and thousands of FHA-approved buyers are doing it right now through the HOPER program. Here’s exactly how it works, who qualifies, and how much you could receive.
If you’ve been FHA pre-approved but can’t seem to close the gap on your down payment or closing costs — you’re not alone. Millions of American buyers are stuck in exactly this position. They qualify for a mortgage. They’ve found a home they love. But the $8,000, $10,000, or $13,000 they need upfront keeps moving just out of reach.
There’s a program called HOPER — the Hope for Homeownership Research Project — that was specifically designed to close that gap. And it works differently from every other homebuyer assistance program you’ve probably already looked at.
What is HOPER?
HOPER stands for the Hope for Homeownership Research Project, administered by Attainable Housing Advocates (AHA). It’s a research program that studies the long-term economic and social outcomes of homeownership — and it compensates participants for their involvement.
That compensation — up to 3.5% of your purchase price, with a maximum of $13,000 — can be applied toward your FHA down payment, closing costs, a rate buydown to lower your monthly payment, or qualified debt payoff at closing.
The key difference from traditional DPA programs
Traditional down payment assistance programs are loans or grants funded by state housing agencies. HOPER funds are research participant compensation — which means there is no repayment requirement, no second lien placed on your home, and critically, no income limit. You don’t have to be low income to qualify.
How much can you receive?
HOPER provides up to 3.5% of your purchase price with a maximum of $13,000. Here’s what that looks like across different price ranges:
| Purchase Price | HOPER Funds (3.5%) | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $5,250 | Full FHA down payment |
| $200,000 | $7,000 | Full down payment + closing costs |
| $250,000 | $8,750 | Full down payment + most closing costs |
| $300,000 | $10,500 | Down payment + closing costs + rate buydown |
| $371,000+ | $13,000 (max) | Maximum program benefit |
On a $300,000 home in Texas, Arizona, Florida, or Missouri, that’s $10,500 — enough to cover your entire FHA down payment ($10,500) with funds left over for closing costs.
Who qualifies for HOPER?
HOPER eligibility is simpler than most programs. To qualify you need to be:
- FHA loan eligible — you don’t need to have your pre-approval letter yet, but you need to be working toward an FHA purchase loan
- Purchasing a primary residence — HOPER is for homebuyers, not investors
- Buying in a HOPER-participating state — currently available in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Missouri with more states being added
That’s essentially it. There is no income limit. A household earning $150,000 per year is just as eligible as one earning $50,000. This is what makes HOPER fundamentally different from state DPA programs, which typically cut off at 80%–120% of area median income.
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Most states offer Down Payment Assistance programs through their housing finance agencies. These programs sound great — until you read the fine print. Here’s how HOPER stacks up:
| Feature | State DPA Programs | HOPER |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit | Yes — typically 80–120% AMI | No income limit |
| Repayment required | Often — deferred or forgiven | Never |
| Second lien on home | Usually yes | No |
| Geographic restrictions | Often limited to zip codes | Statewide |
| Manufactured homes | Usually excluded | Supported |
| Max funds | Varies — often $10,000–$15,000 | Up to $13,000 |
Does HOPER work for manufactured homes?
Yes — and this is a big deal. Most DPA programs and many conventional lenders will not work with FHA loans for manufactured housing. HOPER supports FHA loans for manufactured homes, making it one of the only programs serving this large and underserved segment of homebuyers. If you’re purchasing a manufactured home with an FHA loan in Texas, Florida, Arizona, or Missouri — HOPER may be your best and only option for upfront cost assistance.
How does the process work?
Working with CloseReady to access HOPER is straightforward:
- Step 1: Fill out the 60-second eligibility form at CloseReady. No credit pull, no commitment.
- Step 2: A CloseReady specialist calls you within 5 minutes to confirm your eligibility and explain exactly how much you qualify for.
- Step 3: You get enrolled in the HOPER program through Attainable Housing Advocates and connected with a participating loan officer in your state.
- Step 4: Your HOPER funds are applied at closing toward your down payment, closing costs, or rate buydown.
The process is designed to be fast. Most buyers who are already FHA pre-approved can move from eligibility check to enrollment in a matter of days — not weeks.
What states is HOPER available in?
HOPER is currently available in four states with more being added throughout 2025:
- Texas — available statewide including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth
- Florida — available statewide including Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale
- Arizona — available statewide including Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Chandler
- Missouri — available statewide including Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and Columbia
If you’re in another state, you can still submit an eligibility check and CloseReady will notify you when HOPER becomes available in your area.
The bottom line
If you’ve been FHA pre-approved and are stuck on the down payment or closing costs, HOPER is worth checking out — especially if you’ve already been turned down by your state’s DPA program for earning too much. The eligibility check takes 60 seconds, there’s no credit pull, and a specialist will call you within 5 minutes to walk you through your options.
The down payment shouldn’t be what stops you from becoming a homeowner. HOPER was built so it doesn’t have to be.
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Available in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Missouri. No income limits. No repayment.
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