source:
  type: guide
  id: va-m26-7-ch09-t13
  authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 9, Topic 13 — Homebuyer
    Assistance Program (HAP)
  description: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 9, Topic 13 — Homebuyer
    Assistance Program (HAP).
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: va-m26-7-ch09-t13-full
  canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch09-t13-full
  section: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 9, Topic 13 — Homebuyer
    Assistance Program (HAP)
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - va
  - va-handbook
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 9, Topic 13 — Homebuyer
      Assistance Program (HAP)
    source_class: va-handbook
    source_url: https://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/pam26_7.asp
    snapshot_id: 23782f6842a5daf5
    fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:53:53Z'
    content_hash: sha256:b7c7fcb001b1097e51e4479c70f74c0d981cc1a7a38109e8cd455e205071d9e8
    paragraph_quote: '13. Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) Change Date July 30,
      2019 • This chapter has been revised in its entirety. a. General Information
      VA permits Veteran purchasers to utilize HAP services when obtaining a VA home
      loan. Both government and private entities administer HAPs. • Lenders are not
      required to obtain VA approval of such programs before closing the loan. Homebuyer
      assistance programs that are administered by a state, county, or municipal government
      entity have blanket approval for use with VA loans. These state and local programs
      are not to be confused with the Department of Defense HAP. • HAPs that do not
      fall under the blanket approval, should forward the documentation to the VA
      RLC with jurisdiction over property state. b. Requirements Lenders making VA
      loans involving HAPs must ensure the following: • the borrower(s) meet(s) VA
      credit standards, • the lender obtains a VA appraisal, and • the property must
      meet VA minimum property standards. If the sale price of the property exceeds
      the VA reasonable value of the property, VA will only allow HAP assistance in
      the form of a grant to pay the difference. Otherwise the Veteran must pay the
      difference of price over value from his or her own funds without borrowing.
      HAPs often require buyers to occupy the property for a specified period of time.
      The lender must, at closing, obtain the borrower’s acknowledgement of this requirement,
      and provide a copy of the signed acknowledgement if VA requests the loan file
      for review. Continued on next page VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised Chapter 9: Legal
      Instruments, Liens, Escrows, and Related Issues 9-27 13. Homebuyer Assistance
      Program (HAP), continued c. HAP Fees Chapter 8 of this handbook lists closing
      charges that Veteran-borrowers are not allowed to pay when a one-percent loan
      origination fee is charged. Since HAPs are designed to assist low to moderate
      income buyers, lenders may not charge Veteran-borrowers unallowable fees and
      use HAP funds to offset these charges since this practice dilutes the assistance
      that the HAP was intended to provide.'
  judgment: false
