Subsidy for used housing: which one applies, how much it is and how to apply for it

Last updated: July 2026

The house you liked already has an owner, it's already been lived in, and it's not listed on any sales sites. That doesn't mean you're out of the running. There is a subsidy for used housing In Colombia, it's a specific regulation with its own name and a set of payment amounts. However, it's not provided by the same entity as the one for new housing, and that's where many families get lost: they apply through the wrong door and leave convinced that used homes don't qualify for government support.

We are Hepacom, the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation (NIT 900.841.914-1), and we work for the right to decent housing. We don't allocate subsidies or manage paperwork: we show you what the regulations say, with the official source alongside, so you can knock on the right door.

Is there a subsidy for used housing in Colombia?

Yes. Decree 1077 of 2015 recognizes the "acquisition of used housing" as a modality of the Family Housing Subsidy, and it is the family compensation funds that finance it with parafiscal resources. It is not a legal loophole: the modality is defined and has its own table of amounts, different from that of new housing.

The regulation even defines what counts as a used home. It literally states: «"The modality that allows the household to acquire a used home, understood as one that, being finished, has already been inhabited and whose construction license has been issued in force under the Colombian seismic-resistant construction regulations in force at the time of issuance of the same"». Save that last part: it's the filter that leaves out the most houses and almost nobody mentions it before the family has already signed the purchase agreement.

Why is Mi Casa Ya not suitable for buying a used house?

Because it's designed for something else. The official website of the Ministry of Housing states it bluntly: they are «"subsidies to facilitate the purchase of new social and priority housing (VIS and VIP)"». Used housing is nowhere to be found in that program.

That's where the misunderstanding lies. Since Mi Casa Ya is the program everyone's talking about, it's assumed that if it doesn't cover a used home, nothing will. The process is different: your compensation fund, not Fonvivienda. You can see what the national program requires in the Mi Casa Ya requirements, And if someone offered you "free government housing," read first. What's true about that?.

How much is the subsidy for used housing?

The amount is not fixed: it decreases as household income increases and starts at 22 minimum wages for those earning up to one minimum wage. The decree sets caps based on current monthly legal minimum wages, not in pesos, so that they don't become outdated each year. Here is the complete table, with the one for new housing alongside:

Maximum amounts for the Family Housing Subsidy granted by compensation funds using parafiscal resources. Prepared by Hepacom based on Decree 1077 of 2015, compiled version from the Ministry of Housing. These are legal maximums: the assigned amount is determined by your compensation fund according to your specific case and available resources. We do not publish the equivalent in pesos because it changes with the minimum wage each year.

Common mistakes when applying for the subsidy for used housing

• Falling in love with the house before checking the building permit. The regulation requires that the building was constructed in accordance with the earthquake-resistant building code in effect at the time of its construction. A very old house or one built without a permit may be habitable and still fall outside the permitted category.
• Go and ask for it at Fonvivienda or the mayor's office. In this system, the compensation fund you're affiliated with assigns the placement. Knocking on the wrong door takes weeks and ends in a "no" that the family takes as a final decision.
• To count on the top of the table as if it were guaranteed money. These are maximums, not promises: the value depends on your case and the resources of your savings bank's housing fund in that call for applications.

What requirements must the used home you are going to buy meet?

In addition to the household requirements (not owning a home, not having previously received benefits, being affiliated with the program, and being within the income limit), the house itself undergoes its own rigorous testing. The decree is demanding on two points, and rightly so: the State cannot subsidize a purchase that leaves the family worse off than before.

• The house cannot be in a risk zone nor in urban or rural areas not legalized within the municipality.
• One has to prove that the seller is the owner, with a certificate of tradition and freedom where it is also stated that the property is free of liens or limitations on ownership.

That certificate is the same one the bank will ask for, so it's best to get it early. We detail the costs of that stage in [link/section/etc.]. deed and notary fees when buying a house, which in used housing weigh more than people estimate.

How do I apply for a subsidy for used housing step by step?

1. Confirm your membership and that the household income is within the limit. Each savings bank publishes its categories and minimum tenure requirements.
2. I specifically chose the option of acquiring a used home when applying. It's not an administrative detail: it defines which salary scale applies to you.
3. Check the house before committing: building permit, proof that it is not in a risk zone and certificate of tradition and freedom of the seller.
4. Submit the application with the household and property documents.
5. Wait for the assignment And only then will you close the sale, coordinating the disbursement with the credit if you are going to use it.

If you're still not clear on the general mechanism, start with housing subsidy through compensation fund and by how much does each box give?. Colsubsidio, for example, states on its own website that its subsidy serves «"to acquire a new or used home"», And the key is in Colsubsidio housing subsidy. Confirm with your provider: not all providers offer all options at the same time.

What if you are not affiliated with a compensation fund?

Financing remains. The National Savings Fund lists among its mortgage loan destinations, verbatim, the «"buying a used home"». It's not a subsidy, it's a loan, but it solves the problem that prevents many people from getting a loan for a house that isn't part of a housing development. How to apply and what they require is available at [link/website/etc.]. housing loan with the FNA, and if you are going to combine subsidy with credit, check the concurrence of housing subsidiesThat intersection is the one that generates the most rejections.

How Hepacom accompanies you

We support families from the southern Aburrá Valley who come here after being turned down. Often, that "no" was correct for the house they inquired about but not for their specific situation. If you're looking at a used home and aren't sure if it qualifies, write to us at donaciones@hepacom.org or from contact usWe offer free guidance. Access to decent housing shouldn't depend on knowing how to read a decree. However, the official entity reviews, allocates, and distributes the subsidy: Hepacom does not charge fees, handle paperwork, or receive payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the housing subsidy apply to used housing?
Yes, through family compensation funds, which finance the used housing purchase option of the Family Housing Subsidy. Mi Casa Ya, on the other hand, is aimed at new social and priority housing.

How much of a subsidy do they give for a used house?
The limit ranges from 22 minimum wages for households earning up to one minimum wage and decreases in increments to 4 minimum wages for those earning between 3.5 and 4. These are legal maximums, not guaranteed amounts.

Will any used house do?
No. It must be finished and inhabited, have a building permit issued under the earthquake-resistant regulations in force at the time, not be in a risk zone or in an area not legalized, and the seller must prove ownership free of encumbrances.

Can I use my severance pay to complete the purchase?
Yes, withdrawing funds to purchase a home is one of the permitted reasons and has its own procedure with the fund. The rules are in severance pay to buy a home.

Last updated: July 2026. Information guide. The procedure is carried out by the official entity. Sources: Decree 1077 of 2015, compiled version of the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Housing — New Housing Family Subsidy y National Savings Fund — mortgage loan. Amounts, requirements, and application periods change depending on the current period: always check with your compensation fund's official channel. Hepacom does not collect fees or manage payments or procedures.