Comment Submitted by Rick Angelo, Infinity Home Mortgage Co

as a mortgage professional for over 20 years, i understand the effects os down payment assistance on loan performance. that said, in our current environment reducing the amount of money a family member can assist a borrower seems extreme. the fact that a borrower needs to ask family for money to close is almost a "built in" safety net since family would be keenly aware of the circumstances involved w/ the purchase (unlike the "Nehemiah" program where the borrower simply applied for the assistance and the third party (non-related) came up w/ the $$$. this issue will have a major affect on housing purchases in the middle class sector.