---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12713"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12713"
heading: "Eligibility under first-time homebuyer programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12713"
units:
  - "Chapter 130 — National Affordable Housing"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions and Policies"
---

# §12713. Eligibility under first-time homebuyer programs

- (a) **Eligibility of displaced homemakers and single parents for Federal assistance for first-time homebuyers—**
  - (1) **Displaced homemakers—** No individual who is a [displaced homemaker](/usc/42/12704.md?p=13) may be denied eligibility under any Federal program to assist [first-time homebuyers](/usc/42/12704.md?p=14) on the basis that the individual, while a homemaker, owned a home with his or her spouse or resided in a home owned by the spouse.
  - (2) **Single parents—** No individual who is a [single parent](/usc/42/12704.md?p=15) may be denied eligibility under any Federal program to assist [first-time homebuyers](/usc/42/12704.md?p=14) on the basis that the individual, while married, owned a home with his or her spouse or resided in a home owned by the spouse.
- (b) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section:
  - (1) **Displaced homemaker—** The term “[displaced homemaker](/usc/42/12704.md?p=13)” means an individual who—
    - (A) is an adult;
    - (B) has not worked full-time, full-year in the labor force for a number of years but has, during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family; and
    - (C) is unemployed or underemployed and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment.
  - (2) **First-time homebuyer—** The term “[first-time homebuyer](/usc/42/12704.md?p=14)” means an individual who has never, or has not during a specified period of time, had any present ownership interest in a principal residence.
  - (3) **Single parent—** The term “[single parent](/usc/42/12704.md?p=15)” means an individual who—
    - (A) is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse; and
    - (B)
      - (i) has 1 or more minor children for whom the individual has custody or joint custody; or
      - (ii) is pregnant.
- (c) **Applicability—** This section shall apply to any Federal program to assist [first-time homebuyers](/usc/42/12704.md?p=14), unless the program is exempted from this section by a statute that amends this subsection or explicitly refers to this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–625, title IX, § 956, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4421.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of title IX of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, and not as part of title I of such Act which comprises this subchapter.