---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 12713"
description: "Eligibility under first-time homebuyer programs"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "130"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING"
section: "12713"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12713"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s12713"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "5935b35b0847f702fd028b49f26aebfddce91201a6aa0d9fb37d2d5b9ed149e2"
raw_snapshot_hash: "644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e"
text_hash: "ebb03bf8577f6a736110efeb1157e00bdedcb3ea57bfc697cec4f2dd4e79d7bc"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 12713 - Eligibility under first-time homebuyer programs

## Text

(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 may be denied eligibility under any Federal program to assist first-time homebuyers 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 may be denied eligibility under any Federal program to assist first-time homebuyers 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” 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” 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” 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, unless the program is exempted from this section by a statute that amends this subsection or explicitly refers to this subsection.

(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.