Down Payment Assistance: How It Works, Where to Find It

Home buyers can apply for down payment assistance through state and local programs. Grants and forgivable loans are available.
Updated
Profile photo of Barbara Marquand
Written by Barbara Marquand
Senior Writer
Profile photo of Michelle Blackford
Reviewed by Michelle Blackford
Profile photo of Alice Holbrook
Edited by Alice Holbrook
Assigning Editor
Fact Checked
Profile photo of Abby Badach Doyle
Co-written by Abby Badach Doyle
Lead Writer
Down Payment Assistance Hw to Get Help Buying a House 2

Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.

Nerdy takeaways
  • Down payment and closing cost assistance can be a grant or loan, commonly from state housing finance agencies.

  • Other sources include nonprofits, local governments, credit unions, banks, mortgage lenders or employers.

  • Many, but not all, programs are exclusive to first-time home buyers. Many programs set income limits.

  • Want to find a program near you? Check out our nationwide list of first-time homebuyer programs.

Nerdy takeaways
  • Down payment and closing cost assistance can be a grant or loan, commonly from state housing finance agencies.

  • Other sources include nonprofits, local governments, credit unions, banks, mortgage lenders or employers.

  • Many, but not all, programs are exclusive to first-time home buyers. Many programs set income limits.

  • Want to find a program near you? Check out our nationwide list of first-time homebuyer programs.

If you want to become a homeowner but don’t have enough cash for a down payment, a down payment assistance program might be able to help. Assistance is available to help with closing costs, too.

Here’s a beginner’s guide to common sources of down payment and closing cost assistance and how to see if you qualify.

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
0%

Check Rate

on NBKC

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Better - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Better

Better

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Better - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on Better

Guaranteed Rate - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on Guaranteed Rate

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
0%

Check Rate

on NBKC

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Better - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Better

Better

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Better - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on Better

Who offers down payment assistance?

Most states and many counties and cities offer grants and no-interest loans to help home buyers pay for down payments and closing costs. Down payment assistance most commonly comes through state housing finance agencies. It can also come from cities, counties, nonprofits, lenders and even some employers.

Often, down payment and closing cost assistance is offered in combination with mortgages geared to first-time home buyers. If you qualify, you can really stretch your dollar when you combine first-time home buyer benefits from multiple programs.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Despite what you may have heard, you don’t need to make a 20% down payment to buy a house. However, a 20% down payment will help you avoid paying for private mortgage insurance.The typical down payment on a house is only 8% for first-time buyers.

Types of down payment assistance

The types of closing cost and down payment assistance vary by program. Common forms of assistance include:

  • Grants. Some programs provide an outright gift of money that you don’t have to pay back.

  • Zero-interest, forgivable loans. The loans are forgiven over a certain period, such as five years. The money doesn’t have to be repaid as long as the borrower still owns and lives in the home after the period is over.

  • Zero-interest, deferred-payment loans. Terms and conditions vary, but generally no payments on the down-payment and closing-costs loan are due until the home is sold, the mortgage is refinanced or the mortgage reaches the end of the term.

  • Low-interest loans. The loans must be repaid over a certain period, such as 10 years. They make homeownership more attainable by spreading the down payment and closing costs over multiple years.

Eligibility: Who qualifies for down payment assistance?

Many down payment assistance programs are geared to first-time home buyers. Some local programs target certain groups, such as teachers, police officers, emergency responders or public servants, such as government employees.

But previous homeowners can get assistance, too: More than a third, 39%, of homeownership programs are open to eligible repeat buyers, according to Down Payment Resource, a company that tracks more than 2,000 such programs.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Even if a program has a first-time home buyer requirement, don’t count yourself out just because you've previously owned a home. The programs typically define a first-time buyer as one who hasn’t owned a home for the past three years.

Requirements: How to get down payment assistance

Requirements for down payment assistance programs vary. Commonly, you must do at least a few of the following:

  • Meet income limits. Many programs are geared to low- and moderate-income residents, so a borrower’s household income must be below a certain threshold.

  • Purchase in an approved location.

  • Stay below the maximum home purchase price, which is usually a percentage of an area’s median home purchase price.

  • Contribute some of your own money toward the purchase.

How to find down payment assistance programs

Some places you can check for programs include:

  • Your state housing finance authority. Visit NerdWallet's first-time home buyer programs page and select your state to see a description of programs where you live.

  • Your city and county governments. Many cities and counties offer down payment assistance and other programs to boost homeownership.

  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Visit the local homebuying programs page on HUD's website and select your state to see a list of programs.

  • HUD-approved housing counselors. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a tool to find a housing counselor in your area.

  • Down Payment Resource. The company offers a tool on its website to find home buyer programs in your area. The online form requires you to provide contact information.

How to apply for mortgage down payment assistance

Visit the website of the local government agency or organization administering the program to learn about down payment assistance requirements and to get a list of approved mortgage lenders.

Apply for a mortgage with a lender approved to work with the grant program. Local agencies may be able to recommend loan officers who have experience helping people apply for the grants they administer.

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
0%

Check Rate

on NBKC

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Better - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Better

Better

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Better - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on Better

Guaranteed Rate - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on Guaranteed Rate

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
0%

Check Rate

on NBKC

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Better - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Better

Better

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Better - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on Better

Did you know? NerdWallet partners with highly-rated mortgage lenders to find you the best possible rates
Answer a few questions to match with your personalized offer
Won’t affect your credit score
Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.