How to afford a home, and get every dollar of help.
Start with where you are buying.
Help you may qualify for
Down payment assistance, first-time buyer programs and income limits.
What it costs
Closing costs, property tax, title insurance and transfer tax.
Ways to save
Rebates where legal, and loan options.
The national picture
Where homebuyer help comes from
Help reaches buyers in three layers: federal loans, state agencies, and your city or county. Start with the layer closest to you.
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Federal loan programs: FHA, VA and USDA
FHA loans start at 3.5% down. VA and USDA loans can be 0% down for eligible buyers. FHA's 2026 limit for a one-home loan runs from $541,287 to $1,299,500, depending on the county.Source: HUD FHA county loan limits, effective January 1, 2026 and the state first-time buyer pages. - 2215
Statewide programs from 51 housing finance agencies
Each state and D.C. has a housing finance agency. Most offer down payment help and below-market mortgages.Source: count of statewide programs listed on our state pages, read from each agency's site, as of September 11, 2026. - 351
City and county programs, in 39 states
The closest layer, and often the largest dollar amounts. Check the rules before you plan on more than one program.Source: count of local programs listed on the same state pages, as of September 11, 2026.
What is a home buyer rebate?
When you buy a home, the seller usually pays your agent a commission of around 3% of the price. A rebate is when your agent gives part of that back to you, in cash, at closing. It is your money, and in most states it is completely legal. Buyer rebates have even been encouraged by federal antitrust regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, as a way to save buyers money.
One more way to save.