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Affordable Housing Assistance

Affordable Housing Assistance is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Standard HUD HOME exceptions.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: 620 typical minimum FICO.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through HUD-approved housing counseling agency required. Local providers include Affordable Housing Resources, Inc. (Nashville), United Housing, Inc. (Memphis), and Tennessee Valley Coalition. Online via eHome America accepted.
  • Residency: Property within Murfreesboro city limits; primary residence; 5-year affordability period.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: Per HUD HOME federal eligibility.
  • First-time homebuyer required (no homeownership in past 3 years; standard HOME exceptions). Household income at or below 80% AMI per HUD HOME limits for Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA (2025: $51,700 (1p) to $97,500 (8p)). Property must be within Murfreesboro city limits and used as primary residence. HUD-approved housing counseling required. Minimum $500 borrower contribution. Property must pass HQS / NSPIRE; pre-1978 housing subject to Lead Safe Housing Rule. 5-year HUD HOME affordability period.
  • A home inside Murfreesboro city limits

It doesn’t cover

  • Purchases above the $350,000 price cap
  • Households above 80% of area median income
  • Homes outside Murfreesboro

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 Rutherford 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.

$116,100
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)

Where it applies

Murfreesboro’s homes

  • 52.8% single-family
  • 9.2% townhouse
  • 5.6% 2–4 units
  • 31.6% 5+ units
  • 0.8% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$402,100

Murfreesboro median home value

18.4%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Murfreesboro

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through HUD-approved housing counseling agency required. Local providers include Affordable Housing Resources, Inc. (Nashville), United Housing, Inc. (Memphis), and Tennessee Valley Coalition. Online via eHome America accepted..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Apply through Murfreesboro Community Development; subject to annual HOME / CDBG allocation., 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 homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is Affordable Housing Assistance?

Affordable Housing Assistance is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Murfreesboro Community Development HUD HOME-funded forgivable second mortgage for FTHBs purchasing within Murfreesboro city limits. Up to $15,000 at 0% interest, deferred, forgiven over 5 years. 80% AMI ceiling. City of Murfreesboro Affordable Housing Assistance is a HUD HOME / CDBG-funded forgivable second mortgage administered by the City of Murfreesboro Community Development department. Eligible buyers receive up to $15,000 toward down payment and closing costs to purchase a primary residence within Murfreesboro city limits. The loan is 0% interest, deferred (no monthly payments), and forgivable over a 5-year HUD HOME affordability period. Pairs commonly with THDA Great Choice Plus. Funding comes from Federal, HOME, and City.

Do you have to pay it back?

Affordable Housing Assistance is forgiven after 5 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Forgiven over 5-year HUD HOME affordability period (1/5 per year). Unforgiven balance due on sale/refi/transfer/non-occupancy before period end, limited to net proceeds. 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?

Affordable Housing Assistance is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Standard HUD HOME exceptions. On credit, the program states: 620 typical minimum FICO. A homebuyer education course is required, through HUD-approved housing counseling agency required. Local providers include Affordable Housing Resources, Inc. (Nashville), United Housing, Inc. (Memphis), and Tennessee Valley Coalition. Online via eHome America accepted. Residency requirement: Property within Murfreesboro city limits; primary residence; 5-year affordability period. Citizenship or immigration status: Per HUD HOME federal eligibility. First-time homebuyer required (no homeownership in past 3 years; standard HOME exceptions). Household income at or below 80% AMI per HUD HOME limits for Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA (2025: $51,700 (1p) to $97,500 (8p)). Property must be within Murfreesboro city limits and used as primary residence. HUD-approved housing counseling required. Minimum $500 borrower contribution. Property must pass HQS / NSPIRE; pre-1978 housing subject to Lead Safe Housing Rule. 5-year HUD HOME affordability period.

What are the income limits?

Affordable Housing Assistance limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income at or below 80% AMI per HUD HOME for Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA. 2025 limits: $51,700 (1p) to $97,500 (8p). The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. 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?

Affordable Housing Assistance caps the purchase price at $350,000. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, PUD, 2-unit (1 unit owner-occupied), manufactured home on permanent foundation per HOME / first-mortgage rules. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Affordable Housing Assistance names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, and surviving spouses among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Affordable Housing Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

How do you apply?

Applications for Affordable Housing Assistance go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Apply through Murfreesboro Community Development; subject to annual HOME / CDBG allocation. 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.

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.