Darius Smith and his family enjoy sitting on the front porch of their new home, recently purchased using HUD's Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program.

Darius, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, obtained financing under new guidelines that allow Native Americans to purchase or build homes on land outside of Indian Reservations. The Southern Ute Tribe headquartered in Ignacio, southeast of Durango, Colorado, received approval from HUD to expand the Section 184 Loan Program throughout Colorado. Now, any members of a Federally recognized tribe can use this loan program to purchase a home in Colorado.

Smith says that his parents, who bought their own first home in 1974 with an FHA mortgage, are his role models for successful homeownership. Smith said that the expansion of the Section 184 Program "will help encourage more Native Americans to pursue the dream of ownership in a community of their choice."

"Nationally, the Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program has already helped thousands of Native American families purchase or build homes on and off the reservations," said HUD Regional Director John Carson. Since 1995, there have been more than 2,800 loans guaranteed with a value in excess of $300 million.

Learn more about the Section 184 Loan Guarantee Program for Native Americans and find a participating lender in Colorado on our website.

You may also contact Mr. Edward Vaughan of the Denver HUD Office of Native American Programs at (303) 672-5179 or via Edward_R._Vaughan@hud.gov.