Quick answer
- Who it may fit
- Buyers who may qualify for local or agency help with purchase cash.
- Down payment & cash to close
- Assistance may reduce cash needed, but the first loan and program may still require borrower funds and closing costs.
- Insurance & fees
- Help may be a repayable second lien; compare first-loan pricing and any insurance or fees.
- Key eligibility
- Income, location, buyer status, funding availability and sometimes education requirements vary.
- Main tradeoff
- Lower upfront cash can bring repayment, recapture or pricing conditions.
Down payment is not total cash to close. Educational guidance pending licensed review.
The secure application opens outside lndwell.com. This page is not an application or pre-approval.
A wide range of housing finance agencies, municipalities and lender-sponsored programs offer help with down payment and closing costs. Availability, structure and eligibility differ by state, county and program, and funding can open and close during the year — so this is a conversation to have early.
- First-time buyers, and in some programs buyers who have not owned recently
- Households whose income falls within a program's published limits
- Buyers in specific areas or professions targeted by a program
- May reduce the cash needed at closing
- Some assistance is structured as a second lien that may be forgiven over time, depending on program rules
- Often pairs with conventional or government first mortgages
- Eligibility rules, income limits and funding availability vary and change
- Some programs add a repayment obligation or a recapture provision
- Homebuyer education may be required
- Program participation can affect the first-mortgage pricing and the timeline
These are the factors an underwriter typically reviews. They are not a checklist of requirements, and meeting them does not guarantee eligibility or approval.
- Income within the specific program's limits
- First-time buyer status, where the program requires it
- Credit and qualifying standards for both the assistance and the first mortgage
- An eligible property in an eligible location
- Completion of homebuyer education, where required
All loans are subject to credit, income, property and underwriting approval. Nothing on this page is a loan offer, an approval, a rate lock or a commitment to lend. Programs, rates and terms are subject to change without notice.