Down Payment Assistance (DPA)
Find help affording your down payment using state or national assistance programs.
Buy a House Refinance Find a loan officerFind help affording your down payment using state or national assistance programs.
Buy a House Refinance Find a loan officerQualified homebuyers looking for a down payment can use money from housing organizations in their area. Most programs offer assistance in the form of a grant or a loan, which may be forgivable after a period. On average, a qualified home buyer could save over $17,500 from DPA programs, according to a report from RealtyTrac.
Most people don’t consider buying a home because they believe they don’t have enough saved for a down payment. They disqualify themselves from being able to buy a home because they believe they need 20% down or at least a substantial amount of money for a down payment. That’s false.
Mortgage Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs are available to those who can’t afford to put down a large amount to cover the down payment on a home. Some programs require 0% down. DPA programs are gold for First-Time Home Buyers and even veterans of the mortgage process.
On Q Home Loans offers a large variety of Down Payment Assistance programs that could help cover some or all of a portion of your required down payment on your next home. Best of all, some down payment assistance programs are in the form of grant programs that don’t need to be repaid!
The Within Reach Down Payment Assistance program is a government FHA loan program that helps qualified home buyers who don’t have the necessary funds finance the down payment on their home:
The Chenoa Fund Program helps home buyers who don’t have a large amount to put toward a down payment by helping finance the down payment requirement on an FHA loan, which is 3.5%. It combines an FHA loan with a grant or loan to cover the down payment. Chenoa Fund Program features include:
Down Payment Assistance programs are all different with certain requirements for each. State or local housing authorities, a non-profit organization, or lender usually set the requirements and conditions for the DPA program. Some programs require you or your loan officer to take a short course on Down Payment Assistance for first time home buyers.
If your assistance came in the form of a loan, you may have to pay it back in full when you sell the house or finish making payments on your home. If you get the money in the form of a first time home owners grant you don’t have to pay it back; the money is yours to cover the down payment or closing costs on your home.
Different DPA programs offer an award based on the sales price of the home, while others can cover 20% of the purchase price, and some cap the assistance at a flat dollar amount.
There are a variety of Down Payment Assistance programs across the country. Some are available nationwide, but most often there are programs available based on your state, county, or city. Your On Q Home Loans Mortgage Consultant will help you figure out what’s best for you and your loan.
There are over 2,000 Down Payment Assistance programs nationwide. Many government agencies at the state, county, and city level provide financial assistance for people in their communities who are well qualified and ready for home ownership.
The amount you can get through DPA programs varies state to state because they’re the ones offering the funds. Some local and state programs can cap the amount you can get for DPA programs.
Down Payment Assistance programs are gold for you, literally. In some cases, you can get a grant (aka free money) or a loan to help you with the low down payment. DPA programs and the percent down can vary based on your credit score and other factors.
Some DPA programs can cover most, and in some cases, all of a down payment and require 0 percent down in certain situations. The agency or organization offering the program can set a limit or cap on the amount you can receive.
There are varying restrictions for Down Payment Assistance. We recommend you find out what your credit score is before applying for a DPA program or seeking pre-approval for your loan. You can work with your Mortgage Consultant to find the best DPA program to fit your needs and your credit score.
Most first time home buyers don’t realize that Down Payment Assistance programs even exist. DPA programs are available to help you afford your dream house.
On Q Home Loans works with your clients to find the best Down Payment Assistance program to match their needs and ensure that we’ll close on time.
Down Payment Assistance programs aren’t only available to first time home buyers. Many programs are available to experienced home buyers looking to move and still in need of down payment assistance. Your On Q Home Loans Mortgage Consultant can help you find the best DPA program if this isn’t your first time buying a home.
Zero percent interest and 5-year forgivable loans:
AZ HFA Home Plus | Arizona (AZ) |
AZ Pathway to Purchase P2P | Arizona (AZ) |
Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance (City of Phoenix/Maricopa County) | Arizona (AZ) |
City of Phoenix – SVP/NSP | Arizona (AZ) |
CalPlus | California (CA) |
CAL Teacher Program | California (CA) |
GSFA Platinum | California (CA) |
City of Oxnard Repayable 2nd | California (CA) |
City of Oxnard Forgivable 3rd | California (CA) |
City of Carpinteria Workforce Homebuyer Down Payment Loan Program – Brokered | California (CA) |
Coastal Housing Partnership | California (CA) |
Cottage Health Shared Appreciation Loan (SAL) Program | California (CA) |
Cottage Health Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) | California (CA) |
Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors SCCARHF | California (CA) |
City/County of Denver metro DPA – AIS Grant | Colorado (CO) |
Colorado Energy Builder Program | Colorado (CO) |
Colorado Housing Finance Authority – DPA 2nd | Colorado (CO) |
Colorado Housing Finance Authority – DPA Grant | Colorado (CO) |
Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Advantage | Colorado (CO) |
Colorado Housing Finance Authority Smart Step | Colorado (CO) |
Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA)Preferred or Preferred Plus | Colorado (CO) |
Summit County Gov. Employees DPA | Colorado (CO) |
Escambia Housing Finance Commission | Florida (FL) |
Florida Housing Finance Corporation – Conventional Program | Florida (FL) |
Florida Housing Finance Corporation – Govt. Hardest Hit Funds DPA Program | Florida (FL) |
Gadsden County Ship | Florida (FL) |
City of Tampa, FL MAP | Florida (FL) |
Wakulla County, FL DPA | Florida (FL) |
Dekalb County WE Grant Program | Georgia (GA) |
Georgia Dream | Georgia (GA) |
Gwinnett County | Georgia (GA) |
City of Savannah – Dream Maker DPA Program | Georgia (GA) |
Invest Atlanta/Urban Residential Finance Authority | Georgia (GA) |
City of Raleigh Citywide Homeownership Program DPA | North Carolina (NC) |
NCHFA Home Advantage Mortgage Loan Program Includes MCC | North Carolina (NC) |
NCHFA Home 1st Home Advantage Mortgage Loan Program | North Carolina (NC) |
Community Partners Loan Pool | North Carolina (NC) |
City of High Point | North Carolina (NC) |
City of Wilson | North Carolina (NC) |
Town of Davidson | North Carolina (NC) |
Beyond Housing | Missouri (MO) |
Beyond Housing City of Florissant | Missouri (MO) |
Beyond Housing Jefferson County | Missouri (MO) |
Beyond Housing City of St. Charles | Missouri (MO) |
Beyond Housing City of O’Fallon | Missouri (MO) |
Beyond Housing St. Charles County | Missouri (MO) |
Beyond Housing St Louis County | Missouri (MO) |
NHD Home is Possible | Nevada (NV) |
Nevada Housing Division: Home Possible for Teachers | Nevada (NV) |
NHD Home is Possible Heros HIP-H | Nevada (NV) |
Nevada Partners, Inc. | Nevada (NV) |
Nevada Rural Housing Home At Last | Nevada (NV) |
AAAH &OHCS | Oregon (OR) |
Home Forward GOALS Savings | Oregon (OR) |
VIDA Savings for Life | Oregon (OR) |
Clackamas County DPA | Oregon (OR) |
SC State Housing Homebuyer Program | South Carolina (SC) |
SC Housing Palmetto Home Advantage | South Carolina (SC) |
SC Housing FHA HHF DPA | South Carolina (SC) |
SC State Housing Homebuyer Program | South Carolina (SC) |
Community Works Carolina | South Carolina (SC) |
Texas Veterans Land Board | Texas (TX) |
Texas SETH – 2nd | Texas (TX) |
Texas SETH AIS Grant | Texas (TX) |
Texas SETH Grant Includes MCC | Texas (TX) |
Texas State Affordable Housing Corp (TSHAC) Includes MCC | Texas (TX) |
Texas State Affordable Housing Corp (TSHAC) 0% DPA 2nd Includes MCC | Texas (TX) |
Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs – TDHCA | Texas (TX) |
Harris County – Stand alone MCC or can be combined with SETH 5 Star Advantage Program | Texas (TX) |
Travis County Hill Country Home Grant DPA | Texas (TX) |
City of Arlington HAP | Texas (TX) |
City of San Antonio, First Responders (FRHAP) Program | Texas (TX) |
City of San Antonio, Homeownership Incentive Program (HIP) DPA Program | Texas (TX) |
City of Houston | Texas (TX) |
Grand Prairie Buying Power Grant | Texas (TX) |
Veterans of Foreign Wars Grant | ALL |
Chickasaw Nation Citizens only DPA Grant | Oklahoma (OK), National |