Down payment assistance income limits in Delaware
26 down payment assistance programs in Delaware publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both.
Every figure below is the limit the administering agency publishes. Limits are revised as area incomes and local prices move, so confirm current figures with the agency before relying on them.
Area median income by county
HUD's published four-person area median income for each Delaware county. A program that sets its limit at a percentage of area median income applies that percentage to the figure for the county where the home is, adjusted for household size.
| County | Published | 4-person median |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 2026 | $112,100 |
| New Castle | 2026 | $122,700 |
| Sussex | 2026 | $103,200 |
Published limits by program
| Program | Income limit | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment (Down Payment Grant & America's Home Grant) | See programIncome limits apply (per Bank of America). Exact limits vary by market/product and are confirmed by a Bank of America lending specialist; the Down Payment Grant and the 3%-down mortgage note that income limits apply. | — |
| Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramDover · Kent | 60% of area median incomeIncome must fall within HUD income guidelines for Kent County; table published at 30%, 50%, and 60% of median (median income $91,300 in 2026). 60%-of-median examples: 1 person $37,740; 2 $43,140; 3 $48,540; 4 $53,880; 5 $58,200; 6 $62,650; 7 $66,840; 8 $71,160. | — |
| Central Delaware Saves (Matched Savings IDA for Homeownership)Dover · Kent | See programIDA programs are income-targeted to lower-income savers; the specific income eligibility (typically a percentage of AMI or federal poverty level) is determined through the Interest Form / intake and is not published as a table on the page. | — |
| Chase Homebuyer Grant | See programNo income limit is imposed by the grant itself; eligibility is based on the property being located in an eligible (LMI or other selected) U.S. Census tract. Underlying loan product (e.g., DreaMaker) may carry its own income limits. | — |
| Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit (DE Tax Credit / MCC) | See programHousehold income limits (by household size): New Castle County non-targeted $119,400 (1-2 person) / $137,310 (3+ person); New Castle targeted $143,280 / $167,160. Kent & Sussex non-targeted $108,800 (1-2) / $125,120 (3+); Kent & Sussex targeted $130,560 / $152,320. Income counted for those on the note and/or mortgage only. | $617,241 |
| Diamond in the Rough Home Loan | See programWelcome Home limits (by household size): New Castle County $119,400 (1-2 person) / $137,310 (3+ person); Kent & Sussex $108,800 (1-2) / $125,120 (3+). Targeted-area Welcome Home limits: New Castle $143,280 / $167,160; Kent & Sussex $130,560 / $152,320. Income counted for those on the note and/or mortgage only. | $617,241 |
| Diamond State Community Land Trust Homeownership ProgramDover | See programBuyers must be income-qualified based on a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI); the specific AMI limit is set per home/funding source and is not published as a single statewide table on the official site. Confirm the applicable limit with DSCLT for the specific home. | — |
| Direct Homebuyer AssistanceSussex | 120% of area median incomeHousehold income must be less than 120% of HUD AMI for Sussex County, DE. 2025 HUD income limits effective 4/1/25: <$81,960 (1-person), <$93,600 (2), <$105,360 (3), <$117,000 (4), <$126,360 (5), <$135,720 (6), <$145,080 (7), <$154,440 (8). | — |
| Down Payment Settlement (DPS) ProgramNew Castle | 80% of area median incomeTotal household income may not exceed 80% of HUD area median income for the New Castle County, DE HUD income area, adjusted for household size. Approximate range: $64,250 (1-person) to $121,150 (8-person) at 80% AMI under current HUD limits. | $460,000 |
| First Front Door (FFD) | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income must be at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI) at the time of registration, as published by HUD for the property location/household size. | — |
| First Front Door Keys (Keys) | 120% of area median incomeHousehold income must be at or below 120% of area median income (AMI) at the time of registration, per HUD income limits for the property location/household size. | — |
| First Start Homebuyers' ProgramWilmington · New Castle | 100% of area median incomeTwo-tier qualifying income: Tier 1 (CDBG-funded) at or below 80% HUD AMI for the Wilmington/New Castle County HUD income area; Tier 2 (City general funds) up to 100% HUD AMI. Income range across household sizes spans approximately $64,250 (1-person, 80% AMI) to $151,500 (8-person, 100% AMI) under current HUD limits. | — |
| Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County Homeownership ProgramWilmington · New Castle | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income (gross income of all adults) must fall within 35-80% of current HUD AMI for New Castle County (2026 guidelines) | — |
| Homeownership Down Payment and Settlement Assistance FundDover · Kent | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income may not exceed 80% of HUD area median income for the Dover, DE HUD income area, adjusted for household size. Approximate range: $37,450 (1-person) to $70,650 (8-person) at 80% AMI under current HUD limits. | — |
| Keys4You Home Loan | See programWelcome Home limits (by household size): New Castle County $119,400 (1-2 person) / $137,310 (3+ person); Kent & Sussex $108,800 (1-2) / $125,120 (3+). Targeted-area Welcome Home limits: New Castle $143,280 / $167,160; Kent & Sussex $130,560 / $152,320. Open Door limits: New Castle $143,280 (1-2) / $179,100 (3+); Kent & Sussex $130,560 (1-2) / $163,200 (3+). Income counted for those on the note and/or mortgage only. | $617,241 |
| Live Near Your Work Homebuyer Assistance ProgramWilmington · New Castle | See programEmployee must meet program income requirements; specific limits not published on official recruitment page (see program packet PDF) | — |
| M&T Bank First-Time Homebuyer Grant Program | 80% of area median incomeFor the grant, borrower income must be at or below 80% of the HUD area median income in eligible counties AND the property must be in an LMI census tract. For the Home Starter Mortgage, the income limit is 80% of AMI by household size unless the property is in an LMI census tract, in which case no income limit applies. Exact dollar figures by county/household size are not published. | — |
| Milford Housing Development Corporation Self-Help Housing ProgramMilford · Statewide | See programEligibility based primarily on household income aligned with AMI guidelines that vary by location and household size; targeted to low- to moderate-income families | — |
| Repeat and First-Time Homebuyer First State Home Loan Program (DSHA Open Door)Statewide · Statewide | $179,100Open Door 2026 income limits (effective April 16, 2026), based on county and household size: NON-TARGETED AREAS — New Castle: $143,280 (1-2 person)/$179,100 (3+ person); Kent & Sussex: $130,560 (1-2)/$163,200 (3+). TARGETED AREAS (designated census tracts in New Castle 0006.02, 0019.02, 0021.00, 0023.00, 0029.00, 0030.02; Kent 0425.00; Sussex 0505.03, 0507.11) — New Castle: $167,160 (1-2)/$195,020 (3+); Kent & Sussex: $152,320 (1-2)/$177,707 (3+). | $754,406 |
| Smart Start Home LoanStatewide | See programIncome limits vary by track, county, and household size. Welcome Home: New Castle $119,400 (1-2 person)/$137,310 (3+); Kent & Sussex $108,800 (1-2)/$125,120 (3+). Open Door: New Castle $143,280 (1-2)/$179,100 (3+); Kent & Sussex $130,560 (1-2)/$163,200 (3+). Higher limits in targeted areas. | — |
| Sussex County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramGeorgetown · Sussex | 80% of area median incomeGross income must be between 30% and 80% of Sussex County AMI as set by HUD. 2026 30%/80% by family size - 1: $21,700/$57,800; 2: $24,800/$66,050; 3: $27,900/$74,300; 4: $33,000/$82,550; 5: $38,680/$89,200; 6: $44,360/$95,800; 7: $50,040/$102,400; 8: $55,720/$109,000. | — |
| Take5 Home Loan | See programWelcome Home limits (by household size): New Castle County $119,400 (1-2 person) / $137,310 (3+ person); Kent & Sussex $108,800 (1-2) / $125,120 (3+). Targeted-area Welcome Home limits: New Castle $143,280 / $167,160; Kent & Sussex $130,560 / $152,320. Income counted for those on the note and/or mortgage only. | $617,241 |
| USDA Section 502 Direct Home Loan Program (Delaware) | See programAdjusted household income must be at or below the applicable very-low-income or low-income limit for the county where the home is located (per the USDA Direct income-limit tables / eligibility site). | — |
| USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program (Delaware) | 115% of area median incomeAdjusted household income cannot exceed 115% of the area median household income for the county (per the USDA Guaranteed income-eligibility tables / eligibility site). | — |
| Welcome Home: First State Home Loan (DSHA Welcome Home)Statewide · Statewide | $167,160Welcome Home 2026 income limits (effective April 16, 2026), based on county and household size: NON-TARGETED AREAS — New Castle: $119,400 (1-2 person)/$137,310 (3+ person); Kent & Sussex: $108,800 (1-2)/$125,120 (3+). TARGETED AREAS (designated census tracts in New Castle 0006.02, 0019.02, 0021.00, 0023.00, 0029.00, 0030.02; Kent 0425.00; Sussex 0505.03, 0507.11) — New Castle: $143,280 (1-2)/$167,160 (3+); Kent & Sussex: $130,560 (1-2)/$152,320 (3+). | $754,406 |
| WSFS Down Payment Grant ProgramNew Castle, Kent, Sussex | 100% of area median incomeTotal household income cannot exceed 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) of the census tract, based on HUD's published 1-to-4 household-member Area Median Income. | — |
Questions, answered
What are the income limits for down payment assistance in Delaware?
26 down payment assistance programs in Delaware publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both. 12 express the limit as a percentage of the area median income for the county where the home is, and 6 publish a flat dollar figure instead.
Why does the same program have different income limits in different counties?
Because most limits are set as a percentage of area median income, which HUD publishes per county and revises annually. A program with one published percentage therefore admits a different dollar figure in each county, and the figure is further adjusted for household size.
Is a published limit the same as being approved?
No. An income limit is one eligibility rule among several — credit requirements, purchase price caps, occupancy rules and homebuyer education all apply separately, and the first-mortgage lender underwrites on its own terms. Always confirm current figures with the administering agency.
Is Hey Prescott a lender?
No. Hey Prescott is an educational directory of down payment assistance programs. We list programs and link to official sources; we do not make loans or give individualized lending advice.
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