First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs by State
First-time home buyers have access to low mortgage rates, down payment grants and closing cost assistance that aren’t available to other buyers. Programs vary by state, which is why it’s important to understand what programs are available in your area to assist with minimizing out-of-pocket expenses and getting you into your new home faster. Check out the programs in your state to learn more.
Northeast
Connecticut
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provides low interest rates and down payment assistance to low-to-moderate-income first-time buyers.
Delaware
The Delaware State Housing Authority offers fixed-rate mortgage loans and down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time home buyers. Specialized tax credits also may be available.
Maine
The Maine State Housing Authority assists first-time home buyers with minimizing monthly mortgage payments through low-cost mortgage programs.
Massachusetts
Programs available through the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency offer first-time home buyers assistance with down payments and closing costs.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority offers specialized mortgage programs that help first-time home buyers with managing large out-of-pocket expenses such as the down payment.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency offers specialized programs with low mortgage rates and down payment assistance.
New York
The State of New York Mortgage Agency provides first-time mortgage programs to buyers who haven’t owned a home in the past three years.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency offers down payment assistance programs, closing cost help and specialized mortgage programs to first-time home buyers.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Housing Finance Agency provides programs that help cover the down payment and closing costs for residents purchasing their first home.
Vermont
The Vermont Housing Finance Agency helps first-time home buyers with low-interest mortgages and special resources.
Midwest
Illinois
The Illinois Housing Development Authority offers first-time home buyers access to down payment assistance and other specialized programs.
Indiana
The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority provides first-time home buyers with special programs that reduce the ongoing cost of homeownership.
Iowa
The Iowa Finance Authority provides cost-saving mortgage programs for first-time home buyers, active military personnel and retired veterans.
Kansas
The Kansas Housing Authority provides a program that provides up to 20% of the home’s purchase price to first-time home buyers.
Michigan
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority provides two specialized programs that give first-time home buyers access to down payment assistance funds.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers first-time home buyer programs that assist with the down payment and closing costs.
Missouri
The Missouri Housing Development Commission provides special programs for first-time home buyers, including funds to use toward a down payment.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority offers first-time home buyers low- or no-down-payment loans, reduced-cost mortgage insurance, and down payment and closing cost assistance.
North Dakota
The North Dakota Housing Finance Authority offers customized mortgage programs to first-time home buyers to help reduce the cost of homeownership.
Ohio
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency provides low mortgage rates, down payment assistance and specialized tax credits for first-time home buyers.
South Dakota
The South Dakota Housing Authority provides low-interest mortgage loans and cash assistance to those making their first home purchase.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority provides specialized mortgage programs and down payment assistance to qualified first-time home buyers.
South
Alabama
The Alabama Housing Finance Authority offers first-time home buyers affordable home-buying programs. These resources are targeted at minimizing down payment requirements and closing costs and include the potential for a specialized tax-saving opportunity.
Arkansas
The Arkansas Housing Finance Authority offers specialized down payment assistance programs that make purchasing a first home more affordable for low-to-moderate-income families and individuals.
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency offers several assistance programs that are targeted at helping people become homeowners faster and with less out-of-pocket expense.
Florida
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation provides first-time home buyers access to affordable, fixed-rate mortgage programs that can be combined with down payment and closing cost assistance. Specialized tax credit may also be available.
Georgia
The state offers the Georgia Dream Homeownership Program, which offers a fixed-rate mortgage and provides first-time home buyers the opportunity to receive down payment assistance to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Housing Corporation offers fixed-rate mortgage, financial assistance and tax programs to make purchasing a first home more affordable.
Louisiana
The Louisiana Housing Corporation offers first-time home buyers down payment and closing cost assistance for up to 9% of the home’s purchase price, reduced mortgage insurance programs and other specialized perks.
Maryland
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development offers mortgage and specialized programs for first-time home buyers, including down payment and closing cost assistance and grants with no repayment requirement.
Mississippi
The Mississippi Home Corporation assists first-time home buyers with grants, forgivable loans and mortgage programs.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency offers first-time home buyers low, fixed-rate mortgages that can be combined with down payment assistance. Some of the assistance is available in the form of grants, which have no repayment requirement.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency provides down payment and closing cost assistance, including discounted mortgage rates, for first-time home buyers.
South Carolina
The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority provides down payment assistance of up to $6,000, and specialized loan programs are available to first-time home buyers.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency provides a specialized program for first-time home buyers that offers down payment and closing cost assistance.
Texas
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs offers programs that provide down payment and closing cost assistance and a tax program that may help reduce annual federal tax liability.
Virginia
The Virginia Housing Development Authority provides first-time home buyers a variety of program options, including down payment grants, mortgage loans with no down payment requirement and potential federal tax savings.
West Virginia
The West Virginia Housing Development Fund provides first-time home buyers with up to 100% financing and closing cost assistance up to $10,000.
West
Alaska
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation offers first-time home buyer programs that provide below-market interest rates and resources to assist with down payment and closing costs.
Arizona
The Arizona Department of Housing provides first-time home buyers with down payment and closing cost assistance as well as access to reduced mortgage insurance costs.
California
The California Housing Finance Agency provides low-to-moderate-income first-time home buyers with access to down payment and closing cost assistance.
Colorado
The Colorado Housing and Finance Agency offers first-time home buyers access to down payment and closing cost assistance and affordable mortgage programs to assist with accessing homeownership.
Hawaii
The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation doesn’t offer traditional mortgages or down payment assistance, but through partnerships, it offers below-market-price properties that are available through a lottery.
Idaho
The Idaho Housing and Finance Association offers first-time home buyers access to low-interest mortgage programs, down payment assistance and help with paying for closing costs.
Montana
Montana Housing’s Montana Facility Finance Authority helps make homeownership accessible through low-interest mortgages, down payment assistance and specialized programs.
Nevada
The Nevada Housing Division provides low-to-moderate-income first-time home buyers assistance with down payment and closing costs.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority provides programs that enable first-time home buyers to gain access to funds for a down payment and closing costs.
Oregon
Oregon Housing and Community Services provides first-time home buyers access to below-market interest rates and down payment assistance grants up to $15,000. Additionally, up to 3% closing cost assistance is available.
Utah
The Utah Housing Corporation provides assistance to help first-time home buyers overcome one of the most common hurdles to homeownership — the down payment.
Washington
The Washington State Housing Finance Commission offers first-time home buyers down payment assistance for up to 4% of their mortgage amount and access to affordable mortgage programs.
Wyoming
The Wyoming Community Development Authority offers special first-time home buyer programs and down payment assistance along with specialized tax credits to drive down the costs of homeownership.
