Down payment assistance income limits in New Mexico
22 down payment assistance programs in New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo | 2026 | $100,400 |
| Catron | 2026 | $70,200 |
| Chaves | 2026 | $65,600 |
| Cibola | 2026 | $62,600 |
| Colfax | 2026 | $64,700 |
| Curry | 2026 | $79,000 |
| De Baca | 2026 | $89,500 |
| Dona Ana | 2026 | $79,900 |
| Eddy | 2026 | $100,100 |
| Grant | 2026 | $68,400 |
| Guadalupe | 2026 | $60,500 |
| Harding | 2026 | $95,500 |
| Hidalgo | 2026 | $71,200 |
| Lea | 2026 | $92,200 |
| Lincoln | 2026 | $73,800 |
| Los Alamos | 2026 | $182,500 |
| Luna | 2026 | $48,300 |
| Mckinley | 2026 | $56,400 |
| Mora | 2026 | $57,700 |
| Otero | 2026 | $71,000 |
| Quay | 2026 | $60,400 |
| Rio Arriba | 2026 | $73,700 |
| Roosevelt | 2026 | $69,700 |
| San Juan | 2026 | $80,300 |
| San Miguel | 2026 | $74,300 |
| Sandoval | 2026 | $100,400 |
| Santa Fe | 2026 | $118,600 |
| Sierra | 2026 | $71,300 |
| Socorro | 2026 | $50,000 |
| Taos | 2026 | $80,500 |
| Torrance | 2026 | $100,400 |
| Union | 2026 | $66,700 |
| Valencia | 2026 | $100,400 |
Published limits by program
| Program | Income limit | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| City of Albuquerque Affordable Homeownership AssistanceAlbuquerque · Bernalillo | See programTargeted to low- and moderate-income homebuyers per HUD CDBG/HOME income limits for the Albuquerque area; specific percentage and dollar limits are set by the delivering nonprofit subrecipient and HUD limits and were not published on the City's applicant-facing page. | — |
| Downpayment Assistance ProgramSanta Fe | 80% of area median income80% AMI for Santa Fe County (Santa Fe MSA) per HUD income limits. Per seed: $20,900 (1p extremely low / very low) up to $105,100 (8p 80% AMI). Actual schedule includes 50%, 60%, 80% AMI tiers depending on assistance amount. | — |
| FirstDownStatewide · Statewide | $191,705FirstHome / FirstDown income limits per IRS Section 143 (Mortgage Revenue Bond). Non-targeted: $82,560 (1-2p smallest counties) up to $111,937 (3+p larger counties). Targeted census tracts: up to $191,705 (3+p targeted county). Limits vary by county and household size. See NM MFA Income & Purchase Price Limits PDF. | $718,722 |
| FirstDown Plus (MFA) | See programBorrower eligibility same as FirstHome/FirstDown; income limits vary by county and household size. If paired with HomeNow, borrowers must be at or below 80% AMI. | — |
| FirstHome (MFA) | See programHousehold income limits vary by county and household size; see MFA income and purchase price limits page. | — |
| Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramAlbuquerque · Bernalillo County | 80% of area median incomeGross annual household income must be between 50% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Bernalillo County; updated annually based on HUD figures and household size. Exact dollar limits are published on GAHH's Income Criteria page (year-dependent). | — |
| Habitat for Humanity of Taos Homeownership ProgramTaos · Taos | 60% of area median incomeHousehold income cannot exceed 60% of Taos County median family income as established annually by HUD. Specific dollar limits by household size are not published on the affiliate website. | — |
| Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) as defined by HUD | — |
| HomeForward First Mortgage Loan (MFA) | See programAvailable to low- and moderate-income borrowers; income limits vary by county and household size (see MFA limits page). | — |
| HomeForward Second Mortgage LoanStatewide · Statewide | $268,500HomeForward higher-tier income limits — non-bond / TBA program; up to $268,500 (3+p targeted Los Alamos / Santa Fe) per 2025 NM MFA HomeForward limits. Min $121,800 (1-2p smallest counties). | $798,581 |
| HomeNowStatewide · Statewide | 80% of area median incomeHomeNow income limits ≤80% HUD AMI by county / household size. Per 2025 NM MFA schedule: $38,550 (1p smallest county) up to $137,550 (8p targeted Los Alamos County). Tighter than FirstHome / HomeForward limits. | $441,000 |
| HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (New Mexico) | See programNo program income limit; loan amounts subject to maximum loan limits that vary by county | — |
| Mesilla Valley Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramLas Cruces · Doña Ana County | See programIncome requirements assessed against program criteria; specific AMI percentage and dollar limits are determined at application and not published on the public site. Program serves low-income families in need of decent, affordable housing. | — |
| Native Partnership for Housing Gap Financing (Second Mortgage)Gallup · McKinley County | See programIncome/eligibility determined at application against NPH criteria; specific limits not published on the primary source. | — |
| Rio Rancho Housing Opportunity Program (RRHOP) / Down Payment Assistance ProgramRio Rancho · Sandoval | See programLow-to-moderate income; targeted to households meeting HUD CDBG low/mod income limits for Rio Rancho/Sandoval County | — |
| Santa Fe Community Housing Trust - Mortgage Reduction AssistanceSanta Fe · Santa Fe | 80% of area median incomeMany products serve households at or below 80% AMI; City AHTF products can serve up to 120% AMI (HOPWA-funded component requires income below 80% AMI) | — |
| Santa Fe Community Housing Trust HOPWA Homebuyer Initiative (HIV/AIDS)Santa Fe · Santa Fe | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income must fall below 80% of area median income. Specific dollar limits by household size are not published on the program page. | — |
| Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramSanta Fe · Santa Fe County | $79,600Gross annual income must fall between published minimum and maximum by family size (based on current HUD figures): 1 person $20,900-$55,750; 2 $23,900-$63,700; 3 $26,900-$71,650; 4 $29,850-$79,600; 5 $32,250-$86,000; 6 $34,650-$92,350. | — |
| Sawmill Community Land Trust Homebuyer ProgramAlbuquerque · Bernalillo | 80% of area median incomeCombined household annual income at or below 80% of the Albuquerque Area Median Income (AMI). Published 80% AMI limits by household size: 1=$51,200; 2=$58,500; 3=$65,800; 4=$73,100; 5=$78,950; 6=$84,800; 7=$90,650; 8=$95,500. | — |
| Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity Homeownership ProgramFarmington · San Juan | 80% of area median incomeTotal family income must not exceed 80% of San Juan County area median income; stated as not exceeding $52,100 for a family of four per the affiliate (2025-2026). Limits for other household sizes scale with HUD AMI but are not individually published. | — |
| USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan (Section 502 Direct, New Mexico)Albuquerque | 80% of area median incomeAdjusted income at or below the applicable low-income (or very-low-income) limit for the area; limits vary by county and household size | — |
| Valencia County Down Payment Assistance ProgramLos Lunas · Valencia | 150% of area median incomeHouseholds earning up to 150% of the area median income may be eligible | — |
Questions, answered
What are the income limits for down payment assistance in New Mexico?
22 down payment assistance programs in New Mexico publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both. 11 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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