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Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program

Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED) · Ann Arbor, Michigan

Last verified
See what you qualify forOfficial program site →
Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Deferred

No payments until the home is sold or refinanced

What is Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program?

Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Ann Arbor, Michigan, administered by Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED).

  • Washtenaw County OCED, on behalf of the Washtenaw Urban County, provides down payment assistance to low-income, first-time homebuyers using federal HOME and CDBG funds. Assistance is structured as a deferred (silent second) lien recorded behind the buyer's first mortgage. Eligible households must earn at or below 80% of Area Median Income, purchase within an Urban County jurisdiction, and complete WHEP homebuyer education with a HUD-certified counselor.
  • Down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
  • Deferred second lien (no monthly DPA payments).
  • Available across the Washtenaw Urban County including the City of Ann Arbor.
  • Free homebuyer education through WHEP.
  • Funding comes from Federal HOME and CDBG funds awarded to Washtenaw County through the Washtenaw Urban County.

Do you have to pay it back?

Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off.

  • The assistance is recorded in Second position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Washtenaw Housing Education Partners (WHEP) Homebuyer Education Program (HUD-certified counselor required)
  • Residency: Home purchased must be within a jurisdiction of the Washtenaw Urban County
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or legal resident alien
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-11): pending admin review. Requires completion of the Washtenaw Housing Education Partners (WHEP) homebuyer education program with a HUD-certified counselor. Applicant cannot currently own a home or mobile/manufactured home. Conflict-of-interest rules bar employees/officials of Washtenaw County and participating Urban County jurisdictions. unconfirmed: assistance_amount (no published dollar amount on official source); forgiveness_years/repayment_trigger for the DPA-specific lien; recapture_provision; min_credit_score; max_dti; max_purchase_price; min_contribution; eligible_property_types/eligible_products; participating_lenders; annual_funding_cap. Verify current amount, lien forgiveness terms, price caps, and funding availability directly with OCED before publishing.

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • Household income at or below 80% of the Washtenaw County Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for household size, as published annually by HUD.
  • 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.

Where does it apply?

Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program serves buyers purchasing in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

How do you apply?

Applications for Washtenaw County / City of Ann Arbor Down Payment Assistance Program go through Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Washtenaw Housing Education Partners (WHEP) Homebuyer Education Program (HUD-certified counselor required).

  2. Contact Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED) to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved with the provider and are subject to availability.

  3. 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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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