Waiting to buy is
digging a financial hole

The data is clear: homeowners are over 40x wealthier than renters on average. The longer you wait to purchase, the deeper the wealth gap becomes — because every month you rent, someone else is building equity in their home while yours sits in a landlord’s pocket.

Down payment assistance programs exist specifically to close this gap. They’re not charity — they’re tools designed to help qualified buyers stop renting and start building wealth. And most people who qualify never find out, because they never ask.

40x
The average homeowner is over 40x wealthier than the average renter. Every year you wait, that gap widens.
Homeowner Wealth Gap

Three ways we can
close the gap

🎁
Grants

True grants don’t need to be repaid — ever. They’re funded by state housing agencies, nonprofits, and employer programs. Eligibility varies by income, location, and loan type, but they’re more common than most buyers realize. We’ll identify every grant available in your situation.

Forgivable Second Liens

A forgivable second lien provides assistance that is forgiven over time — typically 3 to 5 years — as long as you remain in the home. No monthly payment required. If you stay in the home for the forgiveness period, you never pay it back.

📋
Repayable Second Liens

Repayable second liens provide assistance at low or deferred interest rates with repayment triggered by sale, refinance, or the end of the loan term. They allow you to buy now and repay the assistance later — often with very favorable terms compared to waiting years to save.

How DPA works
alongside your mortgage

Down payment assistance doesn’t replace your mortgage — it works alongside it. You still qualify for a primary loan (FHA, conventional, USDA, or VA), and the DPA program provides additional funds to cover your down payment and sometimes closing costs.

The key is finding a lender who knows which DPA programs are active in your area, which ones you qualify for, and how to structure both loans correctly. That’s what we do.

Check My DPA Eligibility →
01
Qualify for a Primary Loan

We determine which primary loan program you qualify for — FHA, conventional, USDA, or VA — and at what terms.

02
Identify Available DPA Programs

We search nationwide and local programs for every grant and assistance option available in your area and income bracket.

03
Stack the Best Combination

We structure the primary loan and DPA together to minimize your out-of-pocket cost at closing while keeping your monthly payment manageable.

04
Close and Build Equity

You close on your home, stop paying rent, and start building the equity that separates homeowners from renters over time.

Every month you wait
costs you more than you think.

Rising home prices mean the home you can afford today may be out of reach in two years. The down payment you’re saving grows more slowly than the gap between what you have and what you need. And every month of rent is a month of wealth building you can never get back.

Down payment assistance exists because policymakers and lenders understand this math. Use the tools available to you.

40x
Average wealth gap between homeowners and renters
5%
Maximum DPA assistance available through many programs — enough to cover your full FHA down payment and then some
$0
What some grants require you to repay — ever — if you meet eligibility requirements

Common questions about
down payment assistance

Do I have to be a first-time buyer to qualify?+

Not always. Many DPA programs are open to first-time buyers only — but the definition of “first-time buyer” often means you haven’t owned a primary residence in the past three years, not that you’ve never owned before. Some programs have no first-time buyer requirement at all. We’ll identify which programs you’re eligible for based on your specific situation.

Are there income limits?+

Most DPA programs do have income limits, typically expressed as a percentage of the area median income (AMI) for your county. However, limits vary widely by program and area — some programs serve buyers up to 140% of AMI, which covers a significant portion of the working population. We’ll check your eligibility against the programs available in your area.

What’s the difference between a grant and a forgivable second lien?+

A grant is funds provided with no repayment obligation — it’s yours outright once you close. A forgivable second lien is technically a loan that is forgiven over a set period (typically 3–5 years) as long as you remain in the home. Both result in $0 out of pocket, but the forgiveness structure means there’s a recapture period during which you’d owe a portion back if you sell or refinance early.

Does DPA affect my interest rate?+

Sometimes — it depends on the program. Some DPA programs are paired with specific first mortgage products that may carry a slightly higher rate in exchange for the assistance. Others stack cleanly on top of market-rate loans. We’ll always show you the full picture — rate, DPA amount, and net monthly payment — so you can make an informed decision.

Can DPA cover closing costs too?+

Yes — many programs allow assistance funds to be applied to both down payment and closing costs. This can dramatically reduce your total out-of-pocket cost at closing. Some buyers close with very little cash required. We’ll structure it to minimize what you bring to the table on closing day.

Stop waiting.
Start building equity.

Free eligibility check. No credit pull. We’ll find every program available to you.

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