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Everything you need to buy your first home

Down payment assistance in every state, today's mortgage rates, payment calculators and step-by-step guides, all free.

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Today's 30-yr rates

As of Nov 5, 2026

Optimal Blue daily averages, via FRED

  • Conventional

    7.09%down 0.06

  • FHA

    6.89%down 0.15

  • VA

    6.71%down 0.08

  • USDA

    6.86%down 0.12

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What is down payment assistance?

Down payment assistance (DPA) is money from a state housing finance agency, city, county or nonprofit that covers part of your down payment or closing costs. It usually comes as a grant, a forgivable loan or a deferred loan you repay when you sell or refinance. As of November 2026, HouseBuyerGuides.com tracks 1,677 active programs, and 40% of them accept buyers who have owned a home before. Most require a pre-approval from a participating lender before you apply.

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Down payment assistance

Find homebuyer programs in your state

Every state guide covers its housing finance agency programs, local grants and forgivable loans, who qualifies and how to apply, with city-by-city detail.

Available Programs

Available Programs

1,677

Assistance programs nationwide

Repeat Buyers

Repeat Buyers

40%

Of programs open to non-first-timers

Down Payment Assistance

Down Payment Assistance

68%

Of programs help with down payments

Counts of active programs in our database, last checked November 2026. How we verify programs

City guides

Explore programs in popular cities

Local grants, city programs and costs for over 1,100 cities.

Calculators and tools

Rate calculators start at today's average rate.

Step-by-step guides

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