State First-Time Homebuyer Programs (2025)
Every U.S. state has at least one down payment assistance program for first-time buyers. Here's a searchable database of major programs — amounts, requirements, and official links. Updated quarterly.
| State | Program | Assistance | Key Requirements | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program | Down payment / closing cost assistance up to 3.5% of purchase price as a deferred second mortgage | Must be first-time buyer; income limits vary by county (~$18... | Official Site → |
| Texas | Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) | Down payment assistance grants of 3–5% of loan amount; no repayment required | Income limits apply (~$90k–$130k depending on region); 620+ ... | Official Site → |
| Florida | Florida Assist Second Mortgage | Up to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs at 0% interest, deferred until sale/refi | First-time buyers only; 640 min credit score; income and pur... | Official Site → |
| New York | State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) | Low fixed rates + down payment assistance up to $15,000 as a 0% deferred loan | First-time buyer; income limits vary by region; 640+ credit ... | Official Site → |
| Illinois | Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Access Forgivable | $6,000 forgivable grant (forgiven after 5 years) for down payment + closing costs | 640 credit score; income limits apply; primary residence; co... | Official Site → |
| Washington | Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) Home Advantage | Up to 4% of loan amount for down payment; deferred second mortgage at 0% | First-time buyer or haven't owned in 3 years; income limits ... | Official Site → |
| Georgia | Georgia Dream Homeownership Program | $10,000 standard DPA ($12,500 for some professions); 0% interest deferred loan | Income limits: ~$88k–$116k depending on region; 640 credit s... | Official Site → |
| Arizona | Home Plus Program | 3–4% of loan amount as grant (no repayment required); for down payment + closing costs | 640+ credit score; income limit $122,100; primary residence;... | Official Site → |
| Colorado | CHFA SmartStep | Down payment assistance up to $25,000 for certain qualified buyers; deferred second mortgage | CHFA-approved lender; income and purchase price limits; home... | Official Site → |
| North Carolina | NC Home Advantage Mortgage | Up to 3–5% DPA as a 0% deferred second mortgage; forgiven 20% per year if you stay 10+ years | 640 credit score; income limit $126,000; purchase price limi... | Official Site → |
| Virginia | VHDA Down Payment Assistance Grant | 3–3.5% grant with no repayment required | 620 credit score; income and purchase price limits by area; ... | Official Site → |
| Ohio | Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Your Choice! DPA | 2.5% or 5% of loan amount for down payment + closing costs; forgiven after 7 years | 640 credit score; income limits ~$85k–$145k by county; prima... | Official Site → |
| Michigan | MI Home Loan Flex | Down payment assistance of up to $10,000 as a 0% non-amortizing second loan | First-time or repeat buyers; 640 credit score; income and sa... | Official Site → |
| Pennsylvania | Keystone Home Loan Program + PHFA Grant | 30-year low fixed rate + optional $500 closing cost grant (some programs up to $6,000 DPA) | Income and purchase price limits by county; 660 credit score... | Official Site → |
| Tennessee | THDA Great Choice Home Loan | Down payment assistance of $7,500 (deferred) or $15,000 (30-year second mortgage) | 640 credit score; income limits ~$95k–$115k; purchase price ... | Official Site → |
| Nevada | Home Is Possible (HIP) Program | 4% of loan amount as a 30-year second mortgage (lowest available rate) | 640 credit score; income limit $105,000; purchase price limi... | Official Site → |
| Oregon | OR Bond Residential Loan Program | Below-market rate + cash assistance grant of 3% of loan for DPA | First-time buyer or 3-year rule; income and purchase price l... | Official Site → |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Housing Start Up Loan | Up to $18,000 in DPA at 0% interest; deferred until sale or refi | Income limits ~$84k–$133k by region; 640 credit; first-time ... | Official Site → |
| Massachusetts | MassHousing Down Payment Assistance | Up to 5% of purchase price (max $30,000) at 1% interest, 15-year term | Income limits $150k–$220k by area; 640 credit; primary resid... | Official Site → |
| Maryland | Maryland Mortgage Program + SmartBuy | Up to $15,000 DPA as deferred loan; SmartBuy offers student loan payoff assistance | Income and purchase price limits by county; 640 credit; prim... | Official Site → |
Program Details
Full details for each program including requirements and official links.
California — CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program
Assistance: Down payment / closing cost assistance up to 3.5% of purchase price as a deferred second mortgage
Requirements: Must be first-time buyer; income limits vary by county (~$180k in high-cost areas); purchase price limit $660,000
Visit Official Program Website →Texas — Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC)
Assistance: Down payment assistance grants of 3–5% of loan amount; no repayment required
Requirements: Income limits apply (~$90k–$130k depending on region); 620+ credit score; primary residence
Visit Official Program Website →Florida — Florida Assist Second Mortgage
Assistance: Up to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs at 0% interest, deferred until sale/refi
Requirements: First-time buyers only; 640 min credit score; income and purchase price limits by county
Visit Official Program Website →New York — State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA)
Assistance: Low fixed rates + down payment assistance up to $15,000 as a 0% deferred loan
Requirements: First-time buyer; income limits vary by region; 640+ credit score; SONYMA-approved lender required
Visit Official Program Website →Illinois — Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Access Forgivable
Assistance: $6,000 forgivable grant (forgiven after 5 years) for down payment + closing costs
Requirements: 640 credit score; income limits apply; primary residence; complete homebuyer education course
Visit Official Program Website →Washington — Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) Home Advantage
Assistance: Up to 4% of loan amount for down payment; deferred second mortgage at 0%
Requirements: First-time buyer or haven't owned in 3 years; income limits ~$175k; 620 credit; homebuyer ed required
Visit Official Program Website →Georgia — Georgia Dream Homeownership Program
Assistance: $10,000 standard DPA ($12,500 for some professions); 0% interest deferred loan
Requirements: Income limits: ~$88k–$116k depending on region; 640 credit score; 30-year FHA/VA/USDA eligible
Visit Official Program Website →Arizona — Home Plus Program
Assistance: 3–4% of loan amount as grant (no repayment required); for down payment + closing costs
Requirements: 640+ credit score; income limit $122,100; primary residence; 30-year FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional
Visit Official Program Website →Colorado — CHFA SmartStep
Assistance: Down payment assistance up to $25,000 for certain qualified buyers; deferred second mortgage
Requirements: CHFA-approved lender; income and purchase price limits; homebuyer education required; primary residence
Visit Official Program Website →North Carolina — NC Home Advantage Mortgage
Assistance: Up to 3–5% DPA as a 0% deferred second mortgage; forgiven 20% per year if you stay 10+ years
Requirements: 640 credit score; income limit $126,000; purchase price limit $385,000; NC Housing Finance Agency lender
Visit Official Program Website →Virginia — VHDA Down Payment Assistance Grant
Assistance: 3–3.5% grant with no repayment required
Requirements: 620 credit score; income and purchase price limits by area; primary residence in Virginia
Visit Official Program Website →Ohio — Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Your Choice! DPA
Assistance: 2.5% or 5% of loan amount for down payment + closing costs; forgiven after 7 years
Requirements: 640 credit score; income limits ~$85k–$145k by county; primary residence; homebuyer education
Visit Official Program Website →Michigan — MI Home Loan Flex
Assistance: Down payment assistance of up to $10,000 as a 0% non-amortizing second loan
Requirements: First-time or repeat buyers; 640 credit score; income and sales price limits; MSHDA-approved lender
Visit Official Program Website →Pennsylvania — Keystone Home Loan Program + PHFA Grant
Assistance: 30-year low fixed rate + optional $500 closing cost grant (some programs up to $6,000 DPA)
Requirements: Income and purchase price limits by county; 660 credit score; primary residence; homebuyer education required
Visit Official Program Website →Tennessee — THDA Great Choice Home Loan
Assistance: Down payment assistance of $7,500 (deferred) or $15,000 (30-year second mortgage)
Requirements: 640 credit score; income limits ~$95k–$115k; purchase price limit $375,000; homebuyer education
Visit Official Program Website →Nevada — Home Is Possible (HIP) Program
Assistance: 4% of loan amount as a 30-year second mortgage (lowest available rate)
Requirements: 640 credit score; income limit $105,000; purchase price limit $548,250; primary residence in Nevada
Visit Official Program Website →Oregon — OR Bond Residential Loan Program
Assistance: Below-market rate + cash assistance grant of 3% of loan for DPA
Requirements: First-time buyer or 3-year rule; income and purchase price limits by region; homebuyer education required
Visit Official Program Website →Minnesota — Minnesota Housing Start Up Loan
Assistance: Up to $18,000 in DPA at 0% interest; deferred until sale or refi
Requirements: Income limits ~$84k–$133k by region; 640 credit; first-time buyer; MN Housing-approved lender
Visit Official Program Website →Massachusetts — MassHousing Down Payment Assistance
Assistance: Up to 5% of purchase price (max $30,000) at 1% interest, 15-year term
Requirements: Income limits $150k–$220k by area; 640 credit; primary residence; purchase price limit varies by county
Visit Official Program Website →Maryland — Maryland Mortgage Program + SmartBuy
Assistance: Up to $15,000 DPA as deferred loan; SmartBuy offers student loan payoff assistance
Requirements: Income and purchase price limits by county; 640 credit; primary residence; homebuyer education
Visit Official Program Website →How Down Payment Assistance Works
Down payment assistance (DPA) programs help bridge the gap between what buyers have saved and what they need to close. They come in several forms: grants (free money, no repayment), forgivable loans (forgiven if you stay in the home a set number of years), and deferred loans (repaid when you sell, refinance, or move).
Who Qualifies?
Most programs require you to be a first-time homebuyer (defined as not having owned a primary residence in the past 3 years), meet income limits (typically 80–120% of Area Median Income), purchase a primary residence (not investment property), and complete a homebuyer education course.