Indian Affairs assists American Indians, Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and Tribal organizations with home ownership and economic development, including processing mortgages of trust land.

The Division of Real Estate Services (DRES) establishes mortgage policies and provides guidance, training, and technical assistance to Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regional offices and local agencies.

All mortgage applications for trust lands should be submitted through your regional BIA agency.

The federal government offers several services to AI/AN borrowers to keep mortgages affordable, including:

Mortgage Services for Individuals

You can apply for a mortgage on trust land by submitting a mortgage package to the BIA agency with jurisdiction over the land to be mortgaged. What documents should be included in a mortgage package depend on what type of mortgage you are applying for:

There are also several federal programs that can insure your mortgage, help you qualify, or keep interest rates low:

Mortgage Services for Tribes

Tribes interested in participating in one of the HUD programs must meet program eligibility requirements. For Tribes to participate in the HUD Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184), Tribal laws must allow a provision that the Section 184 loan is the first lien priority on the Title Status Report.

To receive a loan guarantee on Tribal trust lands, the borrower must first obtain a leasehold interest in the land on which the home will be located. Leases for residential purposes on trust and restricted land are used as collateral for Section 184 loans.

Mortgage Services for Lenders

The BIA offers services and guidance for lenders who want to finance loans in Indian Country, including our lender portal and a helpful checklists for leasehold mortgages and trust land mortgages. Contact your regional BIA agency for details.

Additional Information

Additional Resources

Contact Us

Division of Real Estate Services
1001 Indian School Road, NW, Box #44
Albuquerque, NM 87104
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MDT, Monday-Friday