Down Payment Assistance
Down Payment Assistance is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The program asks for
- First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: First-time homebuyer required (3-year look-back)
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- On credit: 640 minimum FICO
- A completed homebuyer education course, through INHP Homebuyer Education / HUD-approved homebuyer education required prior to closing.
- Residency: Property must be located in Marion County, IN and used as primary residence
- Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent/non-permanent resident alien
- First-time homebuyer required. Must use an INHP-originated first mortgage (Community Lift, Market Expander, Homebuyer Opportunity, or other INHP product). 640 minimum FICO. $1,000 borrower contribution. INHP / HUD-approved homebuyer education required. Income at/below 80% AMI Marion County (range ~$57,650-$108,650 by household size). Property must be in Marion County and used as primary residence.
- A home inside Indianapolis city limits
It doesn’t cover
- Manufactured homes
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Indianapolis
These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.
Income limit
80% of Marion County’s area median income
HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.
Where it applies
Indianapolis’s homesIndianapolis’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 59% single-familysingle-family
- 7.9% townhousetownhouse
- 8.9% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 23% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 1.2% mobile & othermobile home & other
A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
$224,800
Indianapolis median home value
59.2%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Indianapolis
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program, through INHP Homebuyer Education / HUD-approved homebuyer education required prior to closing..
Contact the administering agency to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through Direct application through INHP after homebuyer-readiness coaching; subject to ongoing CDFI funding, and are subject to availability.
Work with a lender who handles the program
Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Questions about this program
What is Down Payment Assistance?
Down Payment Assistance is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Indianapolis, Indiana. INHP's Down Payment Assistance — $7,500 to $24,999 forgivable 2nd mortgage tied to an INHP first mortgage, for first-time homebuyers <=80% AMI in Marion County. 640 FICO, $1,000 borrower contribution, mandatory homebuyer education. INHP's Down Payment Assistance program provides $7,500 to $24,999 in down-payment and closing-cost assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers in Marion County. The DPA is structured as a 0% interest forgivable second mortgage paired with an INHP-originated first mortgage. Tier amount depends on household size and income (80% AMI or less). Borrower contribution of $1,000 required. Forgiveness over a multi-year occupancy term. balance recaptured prorate if the borrower sells, refinances, or vacates within the term. Funding comes from City, Federal, CDFI, and Philanthropic.
Do you have to pay it back?
Down Payment Assistance is forgiven after 5 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Forgivable over occupancy term and prorated recapture on sale/refinance/non-occupancy. The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
Down Payment Assistance is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: First-time homebuyer required (3-year look-back). On credit, the program states: 640 minimum FICO. A homebuyer education course is required, through INHP Homebuyer Education / HUD-approved homebuyer education required prior to closing. Residency requirement: Property must be located in Marion County, IN and used as primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent/non-permanent resident alien. First-time homebuyer required. Must use an INHP-originated first mortgage (Community Lift, Market Expander, Homebuyer Opportunity, or other INHP product). 640 minimum FICO. $1,000 borrower contribution. INHP / HUD-approved homebuyer education required. Income at/below 80% AMI Marion County (range ~$57,650-$108,650 by household size). Property must be in Marion County and used as primary residence.
What are the income limits?
Down Payment Assistance limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income at/below 80% AMI Marion County (range ~$57,650-$108,650 across household sizes). The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.
What kind of home can it be used for?
Down Payment Assistance caps the purchase price as follows: Per first-mortgage product underwriting; INHP does not publish a fixed cap. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, 1-2 unit. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
Where does it apply?
Down Payment Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Indianapolis, Indiana.
How do you apply?
Applications for Down Payment Assistance go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Direct application through INHP after homebuyer-readiness coaching; subject to ongoing CDFI funding. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Also for Indianapolis homebuyersOther programs open to Indianapolis homebuyers
- Old National Bank Down Payment Assistance Program (Indiana)Up to $15,000
- INHP Down Payment AssistanceUp to $14,999
- Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramFirst mortgage
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 74 programs for IndianapolisProgram terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.