Your guide to buying your first home
Practical guides on down payment assistance, mortgage rules, and how to bring your community together to make homeownership happen.
Financial Education
Financial EducationAugust 7, 2026 · 3 min read
The New Rules of the Down Payment: How Modern Buyers Are Stacking Grants, Gifts, and Crowdfunding to Buy Sooner
Down payment stacking combines grants, gifts, and crowdfunding into one lender-ready down payment goal. Here's how modern first-time buyers are buying sooner.
Financial EducationJuly 28, 2026 · 4 min read
How Black and Latino Families Are Using Community to Close the Homeownership Gap
The racial homeownership gap is real and persistent. Here's how Black and Latino families are using community-based savings and gifting models to change their timelines.
Financial EducationJuly 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Credit Score and Down Payment: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know
Your credit score and your down payment are connected in ways most first-time buyers don't understand. Here's how they work together and how to optimize both.
Financial EducationJuly 28, 2026 · 4 min read
What Is a Down Payment Assistance Platform and How Does It Actually Work?
What is a down payment assistance platform, and how does community homebuying actually work? A clear explanation of the model for first-time buyers and their supporters.
Financial EducationJuly 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Building a Homebuying Village: How Community Gifting Changes the Math
What happens when 20 people each contribute to your down payment? The math of the village model and why it is changing first-time buyer timelines.
Financial EducationJuly 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Why Realtors Should Know About Down Payment Assistance in 2026
Agents who understand down payment assistance close more first-time buyer transactions and build stronger referral pipelines. A practical 2026 guide.
Financial EducationJuly 9, 2026 · 3 min read
How to Talk to Your Family About Helping You Buy a Home
Asking your family for financial help is uncomfortable. Here is how to have the conversation about homebuying support in a way that is clear, comfortable, and effective.
Financial EducationJuly 7, 2026 · 3 min read
The 5 Biggest Myths About Buying a Home That Are Keeping You from Closing
Five persistent myths about buying your first home are keeping renters stuck. Here is the truth, backed by current data, so you can move forward with confidence.
Financial EducationJuly 2, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Give the Perfect Down Payment Gift
Everything you need to know about giving a down payment gift: mortgage rules, documentation requirements, gift letters, and how to make your support actually count at closing.
Financial EducationJuly 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Gifting for Homeownership: What Supporters Need to Know About Gift Funds and Taxes
Want to help someone buy their first home? Here is everything supporters need to know about gift funds, IRS rules, gift letters, and how to make your contribution count.
Financial EducationJune 27, 2026 · 7 min read
First-Time Homebuyer Programs 2026: What They Don't Tell You
Down payment assistance programs exist in nearly every state. Most go unused. Here's why, and what first-time buyers need to know to actually access them.
Financial EducationJune 25, 2026 · 5 min read
Why Your Family Wants to Help You Buy a Home But Doesn't Know How
Your family wants to help you buy a home. The problem is not willingness; it is knowing how. Here is what supporters need to know about contributing to a first-time buyer's down payment.
Financial EducationJune 23, 2026 · 7 min read
How Much Do You Actually Need for a Down Payment in 2026?
The 20% down payment myth is keeping millions of renters on the sidelines. Here are the real numbers for first-time buyers in 2026, plus how assistance programs and community gifting can dramatically shorten your timeline.
Financial EducationJune 13, 2026 · 9 min read
What Is a FHLB Homebuyer Dream Program Grant? How to Qualify and Apply
The Federal Home Loan Bank Homebuyer Dream Program provides down payment and closing cost grants to eligible first-time buyers. Learn how it works, who qualifies, and how to access it through a member bank.
Financial EducationJune 11, 2026 · 8 min read
How to Set a Down Payment Savings Goal: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to calculate the right down payment target for your home purchase, set a realistic savings timeline, and use community gifting to get there faster.
Financial EducationJune 10, 2026 · 9 min read
First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance: What's Available in 2026
A complete guide to first-time homebuyer down payment assistance programs in 2026: federal programs, state HFA grants, employer benefits, and community gifting. Learn how to stack multiple sources to close your gap faster.
Financial EducationJune 8, 2026 · 9 min read
FHA vs Conventional Loan Gift Fund Rules: What Homebuyers Need to Know
FHA and conventional loans treat down payment gift funds very differently. Learn the key differences in eligible donors, documentation requirements, and minimum borrower contributions before you raise a single dollar toward your down payment.
Financial EducationJune 8, 2026 · 7 min read
What Is a Gift Letter for a Mortgage? Requirements, Format, and Examples
A mortgage gift letter is required any time a family member or friend contributes to your down payment. Learn exactly what lenders require, what must be in the letter, and how Dreamfund generates it automatically.
Financial EducationJune 5, 2026 · 6 min read
How Community Gifting Works for Your Mortgage
Gift funds can cover your entire FHA down payment, but only if they're documented correctly. Here's what every homebuyer needs to know before their loan file hits underwriting.
Financial EducationMay 23, 2026 · 8 min read
How Down Payment Crowdfunding Works in 2026: A Complete Guide
Learn exactly how down payment crowdfunding works, how lenders verify community gift funds, and how Dreamfund turns family and friend contributions into a mortgage-ready down payment.