What is the Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program?

The Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to address the lack of mortgage lending in Indian Country. The 184 program offers a 100% loan guarantee.

Why is there a lack of mortgage lending in Indian country?

Much of the land in Indian Country is held in trust by the United States government for the benefit of a particular tribe or individual Native American. Land held in trust for a tribe cannot be mortgaged, and land held in trust for an individual must receive approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), before a lien is placed on the property. Without the ability to mortgage and foreclose on a home or place a lien on individual trust property, lenders were not able to make home loans to individual Native Americans.

How does the Section 184 program address the lack of mortgage capital?

For a home loan on tribal trust land, the eligible individual borrower leases the land from the tribe for 50 years. It is the home and the leasehold interest that are mortgaged. The land remains in trust for the tribe. The Section 184 mortgage is designed to be secured with this Leasehold interest.

How Does Section 184 Work?

The Office of Loan Guarantee within HUD’s Office of Native American Programs guarantees the mortgage loan made to eligible borrowers. The loan guarantee assures the lender that its investment will be repaid in the event of a foreclosure. The borrower pays a 1% loan guarantee fee at closing which may be financed in the mortgage.

The borrower applies for the loan with an approved lender. If leasing tribal land they work with the tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to obtain an approved 50 year lease.

184 Loan Flowchart

Where can Section 184 loans be used?

Section 184 can be used in 37 states. In fact, as the eligible area continues to expand across the nation, a majority of participating states are eligible in their entirety.

The land located in an eligible Indian area or Alaska Native area (as determined by the participating Tribes) may entail Tribal Trust, Allotted Trust or Fee Simple.

	Map of guaranteed Loans to Date by state
	Map of eligible areas by state

Who Can Use a Section 184 Loan?

Section 184 Loans can be made to the following:

• American Indians or Alaska Natives who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Tribe, Alaska Village or Regional Corporation.
• An Indian tribe or Alaska Village or Regional Corporation
• Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE)

List of Participating Tribes

How Can Lenders Become Approved to Participate?

Loans are originated and serviced by lenders that have completed Section 184 training and have met program requirements.

For detailed information on the requirements and procedures of the approval process contact Mina Motlagh in the Washington, D.C. Office of Loan Guarantee at 202.402.2777.

How are Homes on Native American Lands Appraised?

Home values can be based on Cost or Market basis. On reservation properties, land values are not added into total appraisal values. The HUD FHA 4150.2 handbook (issued May 20, 1999), provides guidance for appraisers on how to appraise existing, proposed and new construction of one to four family homes on tribal trust, allotted and fee simple lands under HUD's Office of Native American Program (HUD/ONAP) Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program.

Are Guaranteed Loans Marketable?

Yes! A Section 184 guaranteed loan, including the security given for the loan, may be sold or assigned by the lender to any financial institution. A strong secondary market exists for Section 184 loans. A growing network of national Lenders as well as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, some state housing financing agencies, and some federal home loan banks purchase Section 184 loans.

Other Resources

Are you a Borrower? View Borrower Resources.

Are you a Tribe? View Tribal Resources.