Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation
HULA Mae Multi-Family Loans
Below-market financing for first-time buyers of designated units.
Structure
First mortgage program
Where it works
Hawaii statewide
Run by
HHFDC
Do you pay it back?
Yes. It sits behind your first mortgage and is settled when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first loan — or on a monthly schedule if the program is a repayable second.
Check whether you qualify for HULA Mae Multi-Family Loans
The Finder compares your income, household size, credit band, county, and job to this program's published rules and tells you roughly what it is worth in dollars.
Ask RED: “Explain HULA Mae Multi-Family Loans to me in plain English.”
Ask REDFrequently asked questions
Do I have to pay HULA Mae Multi-Family Loans back?
Yes. It sits behind your first mortgage and is settled when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first loan — or on a monthly schedule if the program is a repayable second.
Who qualifies for HULA Mae Multi-Family Loans?
Qualification comes down to household income against the county limit, credit score, whether you have owned a home in the last three years, the purchase price, and using the home as your primary residence. Most programs also require a short homebuyer education course before closing.
Can HULA Mae Multi-Family Loans be combined with an FHA loan?
In most cases yes — FHA is the most common first mortgage under state assistance because FHA explicitly allows a government agency to provide the down payment. Confirm the eligible loan types with the agency before you write an offer.
What are the income limits for down payment assistance?
Most programs cap household income somewhere between 80% and 150% of the area median income, and the cap usually rises with household size. Because the limit is set by county, the same salary can qualify in one county and not the next one over.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance?
Most programs start at 620, some FHA-based programs go to 640, and a handful of manually underwritten paths accept 580. A higher score usually unlocks a larger assistance tier and a better interest rate.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Usually, but 'first-time buyer' almost always means you have not owned a home in the last three years — not that you have never owned one. Some programs waive it entirely for veterans, for buyers in targeted areas, or for certain professions.
Is down payment assistance forgivable?
Often, yes. Forgivable assistance is written as a second lien that shrinks to zero over a set period, commonly three to ten years of living in the home. If you sell or move out early, you repay a prorated share of what was not yet forgiven.
Other Hawaii programs
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
HHFDC · Hawaii
20% federal tax credit on mortgage interest — worth up to $2,000/yr for the life of the loan.
Program detailsHawaiian Home Lands (DHHL)
HHFDC · Hawaii
For Native Hawaiians: 99-year lease at $1/yr plus favorable USDA/HUD-184A financing.
Program detailsRelated resources
ReadinessIQ is a Homebuyer Readiness Platform, not the agency that funds these programs. We publish what the agencies publish, link to the official source, and tell you when a rule is likely to change. The agency and your lender make the final call on who qualifies.
