Do you qualify for $10,000 in down-payment help?
Michigan's MSHDA program offers first-time buyers up to $10,000 toward a down payment and closing costs — as a 0% loan you don't repay until you sell or refinance. Answer a few questions to see if you likely qualify.
- Up to $10,000 assistance
- Current 2026 MSHDA limits
- Instant — no email required
Based on your answers, you likely qualify for the MI Home Loan plus up to $10,000 in down-payment assistance — a 0% second loan with no monthly payment, repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the mortgage.
Guidance only — not a determination of eligibility or a loan approval. MSHDA sets exact income and sales-price limits by county, area, and household size and updates them periodically; a MSHDA-participating lender confirms your actual eligibility. Figures from MSHDA, current as of the 6/1/2026 limits.
What MSHDA down-payment assistance actually gives you
MSHDA — the Michigan State Housing Development Authority — pairs a first mortgage (the MI Home Loan) with the MI 10K DPA: up to $10,000toward your down payment, closing costs, and prepaid expenses. The best part is how it’s structured — it’s a 0% interest second loan with no monthly payment. You don’t pay it back until you sell the home, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. For many first-time buyers, this is the difference between buying now and waiting years to save.
It’s available statewide (it replaced the old $7,500 program), and it has to be paired with a MI Home Loan first mortgage through a MSHDA-participating lender.
Who qualifies in 2026
The core requirements, current as of the June 2026 limits:
First-time buyer — you haven’t owned a home in the last 3 years. Exception: in MSHDA “targeted areas” (including Detroit, Pontiac, Southfield, and others), repeat buyers also qualify.
Credit score of at least 640. Household incomeunder MSHDA’s limit — which varies by county, household size, and whether the area is targeted (roughly $104,800 for a 1–2 person household in non-targeted Oakland, Macomb, or Wayne County, and higher in targeted areas). Purchase price under the statewide limit of $566,355. And a short homebuyer education course, usually completed online.
The checker above applies all of these so you get an instant read — then a participating lender confirms your exact numbers.
Michigan down-payment-assistance questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Michigan?
Through MSHDA's MI 10K DPA program, eligible first-time buyers can receive up to $10,000 toward their down payment, closing costs, and prepaid expenses. It's a 0% interest loan with no monthly payment — you repay it only when you sell, refinance, or pay off your mortgage. It must be paired with a MSHDA MI Home Loan.
What are the income limits for MSHDA in 2026?
Income limits vary by county, household size, and whether the home is in a MSHDA 'targeted area.' For non-targeted Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties, the 2026 limit is about $104,800 for a 1–2 person household and $120,520 for 3 or more. Targeted areas allow higher incomes (about $125,760 and $146,720). The checker above applies the right limit based on your answers; a lender confirms the exact figure.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
In most of Michigan, yes — 'first-time' means you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years. But in MSHDA 'targeted areas' (such as Detroit, Pontiac, and Southfield), repeat buyers can also qualify. If you've owned recently, it's worth checking whether the home you want is in a targeted area.
What's the maximum home price for MSHDA?
As of June 1, 2026, the statewide sales-price limit is $566,355 — a large increase from prior years, which means far more homes now qualify. As long as your purchase price is under that and you meet the income, credit, and first-time requirements, the home's price won't disqualify you.
Is this the same as getting approved?
No — this checker is guidance, not a loan approval or an official eligibility determination. MSHDA sets the exact limits and a MSHDA-participating lender verifies your income, credit, and the property. Use this to see where you likely stand, then let us connect you with a lender to confirm and get pre-approved.
Let's confirm what you qualify for
We'll connect you with a MSHDA-participating lender to verify your real numbers and walk you through every step — the programs, the paperwork, and homes in your range. Free, no pressure.
2032 E Square Lake Rd, Suite 400A, Troy, MI 48085