Tennessee Down Payment Assistance

12 Programs
to Help You Buy a Property
in Tennessee

Grants, forgivable loans, and subsidized mortgages — many Tennessee buyers qualify for $56,000+ in assistance and don't even know it.

Find your programs →
5
State programs
7
Federal programs
$0
Cost to search

Tennessee Programs

Click any program for full details, eligibility, and how to apply.

THDA Great Choice Home Loan Tennessee
Below-market 30-year fixed rate

30-year fixed rate for first-time, repeat, and military buyers. FHA, USDA, VA, and conventional.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
THDA Great Choice Plus (Forgivable) Tennessee
$6,000

$6,000 forgivable second mortgage. No monthly payments. Forgiven at end of 30-year term.

Forgivable loanHouse-hack eligible
THDA Great Choice Plus (5%) Tennessee
$15,000

Up to 5% of sales price, max $15,000. 30-year second mortgage at same rate as first.

Second mortgageHouse-hack eligible
THDA Homeownership for Heroes Tennessee
Rate discount + FTB waiver for heroes

0.5% rate reduction for veterans, active military, firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement. Waives FTB requirement.

Rate discountHouse-hack eligible
Nashville Housing Fund Nashville
$35,000

Up to $35,000 for Nashville/Davidson County buyers. Credit score as low as 600.

DPA program
FHA Loan Federal
Saves ~$33,000 on a $200K home vs 20% down

3.5% down payment with 580+ credit. The most popular first-time buyer loan in America.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
VA Loan Federal
$0 down + no monthly mortgage insurance

Zero down payment, no PMI for eligible veterans and active-duty service members.

Federal benefitHouse-hack eligible
USDA Rural Development Loan Federal
$0 down, lower fees than FHA

Zero down payment for rural and suburban areas. 97% of US land qualifies.

Subsidized loan
Fannie Mae HomeReady Federal
3% down + reduced PMI rates

3% down with reduced mortgage insurance for low-to-moderate income buyers.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
Freddie Mac Home Possible Federal
3% down + flexible funding

3% down with flexible funding sources including gifts and employer assistance.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
NACA Program National
$0 down + $0 closing + $0 PMI + below-market rate

No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, below-market rate. Character-based lending.

Nonprofit programHouse-hack eligible
HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Federal
50% discount on HUD homes

50% off purchase price for teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs.

Grant
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Frequently asked questions

What down payment assistance programs are available in Tennessee?

There are 5 state-specific programs and 7 federal programs available in Tennessee, totaling 12 programs.

Do I need to be a first-time buyer to get DPA in Tennessee?

Not all programs require first-time buyer status. Several Tennessee programs are available to repeat buyers. 'First-time buyer' means you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years.

Can I use DPA to buy a multi-unit property?

Yes. Many DPA programs allow 1-4 unit properties. Live in one unit and rent the others — this is called house-hacking.

Nearby states

Kentucky (3)Virginia (7)North Carolina (6)Georgia (8)Alabama (2)