Solo Resources
Become a homeowner

First-time homebuyer programs by state & county.

Step-by-step on how to apply for FHA, USDA, VA, state HFAs, and county down-payment assistance — built for single moms and low-income buyers.

24 programs

Step 1 for everyone: book a free HUD-approved counselor. They'll match you to the best state and county programs and walk you through credit + paperwork.
fha
Nationwide

FHA Loan — 3.5% Down First-Time Buyer

Federally-insured mortgage with low 3.5% down and flexible credit (580+). Available in every state and county.

How to apply

  1. 1Check credit score (need 580+ for 3.5% down)
  2. 2Get pre-approved by an FHA-approved lender
  3. 3Find a HUD-approved housing counselor (free)
  4. 4Shop within FHA county loan limit
  5. 5Apply and close
#national
#first-time buyer
#low down
HUD / FHAOpen program
rural
Nationwide

USDA Rural Development — 0% Down Loan

Zero-down-payment mortgage for low/moderate-income buyers in eligible rural and many suburban areas.

How to apply

  1. 1Check property eligibility on USDA map
  2. 2Confirm income limit for your county
  3. 3Apply with a USDA-approved lender
  4. 4Complete homebuyer education
  5. 5Close with $0 down
#national
#rural
#$0 down
USDA RDOpen program
first buyer
Nationwide

VA Home Loan — Veterans & Surviving Spouses

0% down, no PMI mortgage for eligible veterans, active-duty, and surviving spouses (including single moms).

How to apply

  1. 1Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
  2. 2Find a VA-approved lender
  3. 3Get pre-approved
  4. 4House hunt and make offer
  5. 5Close — $0 down, no PMI
#veterans
#national
U.S. Dept of Veterans AffairsOpen program
counseling
Nationwide

HUD-Approved Housing Counselor (Free)

Free 1-on-1 counseling on first-time buyer programs, down payment aid, and credit prep — every state.

How to apply

  1. 1Search by ZIP on hud.gov/findacounselor
  2. 2Book a free phone or in-person appt
  3. 3Bring pay stubs, tax returns, debt list
  4. 4Receive personalized buyer roadmap
#counseling
#free
HUDOpen program
habitat
Nationwide

Habitat for Humanity — Affordable Homeownership

Sweat-equity homeownership program for income-qualified families. Affordable, no-profit mortgages in 1,400+ U.S. communities.

How to apply

  1. 1Find your local Habitat affiliate
  2. 2Confirm income falls in 30–80% AMI band
  3. 3Submit application + attend orientation
  4. 4Complete sweat-equity hours
  5. 5Close on affordable mortgage
#sweat equity
#income-based
Habitat for HumanityOpen program
single mom
Nationwide

Single Mother Homeownership Grants Guide

Curated guide to grants, forgivable loans, and down-payment aid prioritizing single moms — updated annually.

How to apply

  1. 1Read overview by program type
  2. 2Cross-check with your state HFA
  3. 3Apply through HUD-approved counselor
#single mom
#grants
SingleMothersGrants.orgOpen program
down payment
California

CalHFA — California First-Time Buyer

Low-rate first mortgage + MyHome Assistance for down payment / closing costs. Statewide; partners by county.

How to apply

  1. 1Take CalHFA homebuyer education online
  2. 2Find a CalHFA-approved lender
  3. 3Confirm income limit for your county
  4. 4Apply for first mortgage + MyHome
  5. 5Close
#statewide
#DPA
CalHFAOpen program
first buyer
Texas

TDHCA — My First Texas Home

30-year fixed mortgage + 5% down-payment assistance for Texas first-time buyers. Available statewide.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm income/purchase price limit by county
  2. 2Take TDHCA online homebuyer course
  3. 3Apply with participating lender
  4. 4Use 5% DPA toward down + closing
#statewide
TDHCAOpen program
down payment
Florida

Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program

Up to $35,000 down-payment / closing assistance for FL workforce buyers (teachers, nurses, first responders, hospitality, etc.).

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm full-time FL employment
  2. 2Take homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply with participating lender
  4. 4Close with up to $35K DPA
#workforce
#$35k
Florida HousingOpen program
down payment
New York

SONYMA — NY State First-Time Homebuyer

Low-interest first mortgages + Down Payment Assistance Loan up to 3% (or $15,000) statewide.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm SONYMA county income/price limits
  2. 2Find SONYMA participating lender
  3. 3Apply for mortgage + DPAL
  4. 4Close
#statewide
#DPA
SONYMA / NY HCROpen program
down payment
Illinois

IHDA Access Forgivable Mortgage

Up to $6,000 forgivable down-payment / closing assistance for IL first-time buyers, statewide.

How to apply

  1. 1Take IHDA online homebuyer education
  2. 2Find IHDA participating lender
  3. 3Apply for first mortgage + Access DPA
  4. 4Close
#forgivable
#$6k
IHDAOpen program
first buyer
Pennsylvania

PHFA — Keystone Home Loan + Advantage DPA

PA first-time buyer mortgages plus Keystone Advantage down-payment loans up to $6,000 (0% interest).

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm income & purchase-price limit
  2. 2Complete PHFA homebuyer counseling
  3. 3Apply with PHFA-approved lender
  4. 4Close with Keystone Advantage DPA
#statewide
PHFAOpen program
down payment
Ohio

OHFA — Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance

2.5% or 5% down-payment assistance for Ohio first-time and repeat buyers. Statewide.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm income/purchase limit
  2. 2Take homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply through OHFA lender
  4. 4Close with DPA
#statewide
OHFAOpen program
down payment
Georgia

Georgia Dream Homeownership

Low-rate first mortgage + up to $10,000 down-payment / closing assistance (more for protected professions).

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm county income limit
  2. 2Take homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply with participating lender
  4. 4Close with $10K+ DPA
#statewide
#$10k
GA DCAOpen program
down payment
Arizona

Home+Plus — Arizona Statewide DPA

Up to 5% down-payment assistance through Arizona IDA. Statewide; layered with FHA / VA / USDA.

How to apply

  1. 1Find Home+Plus lender
  2. 2Confirm income/purchase limit
  3. 3Take homebuyer education
  4. 4Close with DPA
#statewide
AZ IDAOpen program
down payment
Colorado

CHFA Colorado — DPA Grant or Second

Up to 3% DPA grant or 4% second-mortgage for CO first-time buyers. Statewide network of lenders.

How to apply

  1. 1Take CHFA homebuyer ed (online or in-person)
  2. 2Apply with CHFA participating lender
  3. 3Choose DPA grant or 2nd mortgage
  4. 4Close
#statewide
CHFAOpen program
down payment
Washington

WSHFC — Washington Home Advantage

WA first-time buyer mortgages + DPA up to 5% (or county-specific programs in King, Pierce, Snohomish).

How to apply

  1. 1Take 5-hour homebuyer ed
  2. 2Choose statewide or county DPA
  3. 3Apply with WSHFC lender
  4. 4Close
#statewide
#county
WSHFCOpen program
first buyer
Massachusetts

MassHousing ONE Mortgage

Massachusetts first-time buyer 3%-down loan, no PMI, plus DPA up to $30,000 in select communities.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm income limit by city/town
  2. 2Take homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply with participating lender
  4. 4Close — no PMI
#no PMI
MassHousingOpen program
down payment
Michigan

MSHDA MI Home Loan + Down Payment Assistance

Up to $10,000 DPA for MI first-time buyers in all 83 counties (and statewide repeat buyers in select communities).

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm county income/sales-price limit
  2. 2Take homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply through MSHDA lender
  4. 4Close with $10K DPA
#all counties
MSHDAOpen program
down payment
Los Angeles County

LA County — Mortgage Assistance Program

Up to $85,000 deferred-payment loan for first-time buyers in unincorporated LA County and partner cities.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm property is in eligible LA County area
  2. 2Confirm income at or below 80% AMI
  3. 3Take homebuyer education
  4. 4Apply via approved lender
#county
#deferred
LA CountyOpen program
down payment
Harris County

Harris County (Houston) Down Payment Assistance

Up to $30,000 forgivable DPA for low-to-moderate income first-time buyers in unincorporated Harris County.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm property is in eligible area
  2. 2Take 8-hour homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply with approved lender
  4. 4Use forgivable DPA at closing
#county
#forgivable
Harris County CSDOpen program
down payment
Cook County

Cook County (Chicago metro) HOME Buyer Program

Up to $25,000 in down-payment / closing assistance for Cook County first-time buyers outside Chicago city limits.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm property in eligible Cook County area
  2. 2Confirm income ≤ 80% AMI
  3. 3Take HUD-approved homebuyer ed
  4. 4Apply through participating lender
#county
#$25k
Cook County BCDOpen program
down payment
Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County Infill Housing & DPA

Down-payment assistance + affordable infill homes for Miami-Dade first-time buyers.

How to apply

  1. 1Confirm income limit by household size
  2. 2Take homebuyer education
  3. 3Apply via PHCD-approved lender
  4. 4Close on DPA-assisted purchase
#county
#infill
Miami-Dade PHCDOpen program
down payment
King County

King County (Seattle) House Key Plus

Seattle/King County DPA up to $55,000 stacked with WSHFC Home Advantage. For first-time buyers.

How to apply

  1. 1Apply for Home Advantage with WSHFC lender
  2. 2Layer House Key Plus King County DPA
  3. 3Take 5-hour homebuyer ed
  4. 4Close
#county
#$55k
WSHFC + King CountyOpen program