Does the "fine print" on Kamala Harris' plan of $25,000 for first-time homeowners say a person is not eligible if they have a relative who has ever owned a home? No, that's not true: There is no proof that the plan has restrictions on people whose mother, father, brother or sister have ever owned a home. Her campaign website states the $25,000 is for "all eligible first-time home buyers, while ensuring full participation by first-generation home buyers." The Democratic presidential candidate's economic plan also details the program for all eligible first-time homeowners.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Instagram on October 6, 2024. It opened:
The fine print on Harris's 25K for first time homeowners; if your mother, father, brother, sister has ever owned a home, you are NOT eligible... pretty much a program exclusively for illegals, and YOU'RE going to pay for it.
This is what the post looked like on Instagram at the time of writing:
(Source: Instagram screenshot taken Mon Oct 14 18:09:12 2024 UTC)
The post does not specify what purported "fine print" it refers to, nor does it cite any evidence to substantiate its claim.
During a campaign rally on August 16, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Harris revealed her economic plan and announced the program, as this video posted on YouTube (archived here) shows beginning at the 20:47 mark:
We also know that as the price of housing has gone up, the size of down payments have gone up as well. Even if aspiring homeowners save for years, it often still is not enough. So, in addition while we work on the housing shortage, my administration will provide first-time home buyers with $25,000 to help with the down payment on a new home. We can do this. We can do this. All to help more Americans experience the pride of homeownership and the financial security that it represents and brings. So, that's my plan.
The official White House transcript (archived here) shows the same remarks:
We also know that as the price of housing has gone up, the size of down payments have gone up as well. Even if aspiring homeowners save for years, it often still is not enough.
So, in addition, while we work on the housing shortage, my administration will provide first-time homebuyers with $25,000 to help with the down payment on a new home. (Applause.)
Harris' campaign website (archived here) details that the program will provide up to $25,000 for first-time homeowners, saying that more money will be given to first-time homeowners who are "first-generation homeowners." Nowhere does the plan say that first-time homeowners will not be given any money if their parents or siblings have owned a home:
As more new homes are built and affordable housing supply increases, Vice President Harris will provide first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 to help with their down payments, with more generous support for first-generation homeowners. This will help more Americans experience the pride of homeownership and the financial security that it represents and brings -- offering more Americans a path to the middle class and economic opportunity.
Her campaign released a statement (archived here) on August 16, 2024, noting the difference between Harris' plan and the plan President Joe Biden released in March (archived here). It emphasized that it was for "all eligible first-time home buyers, while ensuring full participation by first-generation home buyers":
As the Harris-Walz plan starts to expand the supply of entry-level homes, they will, during their first term, provide working families who have paid their rent on time for two years and are buying their first home up to $25,000 in down-payment assistance, with more generous support for first-generation homeowners. The Biden-Harris administration initially proposed providing $25,000 in downpayment assistance only for 400,000 first-generation home buyers--or homebuyers whose parents don't own a home--and a $10,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. Vice President Harris's plan will simplify and significantly expand that plan by providing on average $25,000 for all eligible first-time home buyers, while ensuring full participation by first-generation home buyers. It will expand the reach of down-payment assistance, allowing over 4 million first time-buyers over 4 years to get significant down payment assistance.
Harris' economic plan details the program on Page 43 (archived here):
As Vice President Harris's plan starts to expand the supply of entry-level homes, she will, during her first term, provide working families who have paid their rent on time for two years and are buying their first home up to $25,000 in down-payment assistance, with more generous support for those whose parents did not own a home.
At the time this was written, USA Today, PolitiFact and Check Your Fact had reviewed the same claim.
Other Lead Stories fact checks on claims concerning Kamala Harris are here and the 2024 election are here.
