House giveaways really do exist — and they're organized by city governments and state housing agencies, not through social media profiles. Those selected in the drawing pay a small fee or, in some cases, nothing at all.
This guide explains where these giveaways take place, how to enter, why it’s not all just luck—and how to check, in just one minute, whether a “home giveaway” you saw online is legitimate.
The Essentials
- The actual lotteries are municipal or state-level and they only open when a development project has been contracted.
- An updated CadÚnico record is a prerequisite in most programs.
- Registration is always free. No government agency charges a fee to register you.
- It's not just luck: The elderly, people with disabilities, and female heads of household are given priority by law.
- A company's prize drawing requires federal authorization — and you can check to see if it exists.
Where There Are Real Sweepstakes
There is no single national registry. The drawings take place at three different levels, and it’s worth keeping track of all three:
Where to watch:
- Your City Hall's Website and the municipal housing office—that's where the Band 1 notices are published
- Municipal Official Gazette, where the full text of the notice is published
- Your state's housing authority — In São Paulo, for example, registration opens on CDHU website
- Official website of the My Home, My Life, at the Ministry of Cities
Call for proposals are not open year-round. They open when a project is put out to bid and usually last only a few weeks. That’s why the key is to have your documentation ready in advance—those who wait until after the call for bids is published almost always miss the deadline.
Who can participate
The criteria vary by call for proposals, but the core elements are the same in virtually all of them:
- Income within the limits specified in the notice. In Tier 1 of the MCMV, the federal cap is R$ 3,200 per month. State programs typically allow for a wider range.
- Not being a homeowner residential property anywhere in the country
- Not having an active mortgage nor have previously received benefits from a program funded by public funds
- CadÚnico updated in the municipality
- Minimum length of stay or work experience in the city—many job postings require a few years
- One registration per family, made by the person in charge of the registry
Be aware of one detail that can be confusing. The federal limit for Band 1 rose to R$ 3,200 in 2026, but older municipal notices still list the previous amount of R$ 2,850. The provisions of the current notice apply—always check the most recent publication before concluding that you are not eligible.
How to Sign Up, Step by Step
- Update your CadÚnico information at CRAS. It's free, and it's the prerequisite that causes the most people to fail. Registrations older than two years are considered outdated.
- Sort the documents. Identification and CPF numbers for everyone in the household, proof of residence, proof of income, and a certificate of marital status.
- Please review the announcement. City Hall website, the city’s Official Gazette, and the state housing agency’s website.
- Please register by the deadline. It's usually a free online form. Double-check all the information before submitting it—any discrepancies will cause the application to be rejected during the review process.
- Please wait for the pre-selection and the public drawing. The agency ranks applicants based on the criteria in the call for applications and fills the remaining openings by lottery.
- Please submit the documentation when requested. After the local phase, CAIXA conducts the analysis and final validation.
Why It's Not Just Luck
Many people give up, thinking their chances are slim. But a large portion of the spots aren't allocated through the open lottery: they are reserved for priority criteria established by law and in the call for proposals.
- Woman who is the head of the household
- Family with a member who has a disability
- Family with an elderly person
- Families in high-risk areas or removed due to public works
- Greater number of dependents and lower per capita income
How to Check If a Sweepstakes Is Legitimate
Outside of public programs, any company that holds prize drawings in Brazil requires prior authorization from the federal government. This is known as a commercial promotion, regulated by Law No. 5,768 of 1971 and overseen by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance.
In other words: a company-sponsored giveaway without authorization is illegal, no matter how attractive the webpage may be.
- Look for the authorization certificate number. Legitimate promotions display the number in the terms and conditions, usually at the bottom of the page.
- Check the official system. The SPA maintains the Commercial Promotion Control System (SCPC), where you can check authorized promotions and those under review. The general rules are in the page on trade promotion.
- Check to see if there is a CNPJ and a responsible company identified on the page. Without that, there’s no one to bill.
- Read the rules. A legitimate promotion provides details on the deadline, the number of prizes, the date of the drawing, and how the winner is announced.
A page without a CNPJ, regulations, or an authorization number is not a raffle. At best, it’s a ploy to collect your data; at worst, it’s a scam. This is especially true for “donations” and “house giveaways” circulating in WhatsApp groups and on social media.
Signs of a scam
- Request any payment — registration fee, shipping costs, taxes, or “prize release fee.” Public programs never charge these fees, and authorized promotions cannot make participation contingent on payment.
- Let them know you've already won without you having signed up for anything.
- Requires you to share in groups to “unlock” participation.
- Asks for bank information, a password, or a photo of an ID right off the bat.
- Use artificial haste: “2 spots left,” “expires in 10 minutes.”.
- A website with no CNPJ, no contact information, and no terms of service.
- Impersonates a government agency using the government's name, colors, or coat of arms.
If you've been scammed, save the screenshots and file a police report—most states accept online reports through the Civil Police website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a national website where you can register for the housing lottery?
No. Registration always takes place through the municipality or the state housing agency when there is an open call for applications. Any website that offers “national registration” for a fee is not official.
Is the house that's given away in the drawing free?
In most programs, no. Residents pay a reduced, income-based installment over a long period—well below the rate of a typical mortgage. In specific situations, such as relocation from a high-risk area, the program may be provided free of charge.
I was selected in the drawing. Is it a sure thing now?
Not yet. After the lottery, the documentation goes through a final review and validation process. That’s why the information provided must match the documents—any discrepancies will result in the candidate’s disqualification at this stage.
There are no open job postings in my city. What should I do?
Keep your CadÚnico information up to date and check the city government’s website and the state agency’s website. In the meantime, it’s worth exploring the other categories of the housing program and the options for buy an inexpensive property, which do not depend on a lottery.
Can I enter more than one drawing?
Yes, in different programs—for example, the city government’s program and the state-run company’s program. What is not allowed is for more than one member of the same family to apply under the same call for applications.
What to Do This Week
- Update CadÚnico at CRAS It's been over two years. That's what unlocks everything else.
- Save to Favorites your city's website and your state's housing authority's website.
- Sort the documents Now, so you don't miss the deadline when the call for applications opens.
- Before entering any private sweepstakes, check the authorization number in the SPA system.
Rules and limits based on the October 2026 scenario. Municipal and state notices have their own criteria—always check the most recent official publication.
