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Shawn Wilmoth · United Real Estate Solutions · East Tennessee REALTORS® Participant

THDA help for Tennessee buyers · As of 10-28-2026

THDA rules in pictures

Three pictures: THDA's checklist, the first-time buyer rule and the down payment help by option. Each one has a sentence, a drawing and the same facts in a list underneath.

The six checks

THDA's checklist has six parts. The price and income parts depend on your county; a lender confirms all six.

F: First-time buyer, or an exception. As of 10-28-2026FFirst-time buyer, oran exceptionAs of 10-28-2026M: Income within the county limit. As of 10-28-2026MIncome within thecounty limitAs of 10-28-2026A: Price within the county limit. As of 10-28-2026APrice within thecounty limitAs of 10-28-2026S: A home that fits the program. Ask a lenderSA home that fits theprogramAsk a lenderO: A home you will live in. Ask a lenderOA home you will liveinAsk a lenderS: A credit score of 640 or higher. As of 10-28-2026SA credit score of 640or higherAs of 10-28-2026
F: First-time buyer, or an exception. As of 10-28-2026FFirst-time buyer,or an exceptionAs of 10-28-2026M: Income within the county limit. As of 10-28-2026MIncome within thecounty limitAs of 10-28-2026A: Price within the county limit. As of 10-28-2026APrice within thecounty limitAs of 10-28-2026S: A home that fits the program. Ask a lenderSA home that fitsthe programAsk a lenderO: A home you will live in. Ask a lenderOA home you willlive inAsk a lenderS: A credit score of 640 or higher. As of 10-28-2026SA credit score of640 or higherAs of 10-28-2026
The six checks a lender looks at for a Great Choice loan. Parts marked "Ask a lender" are not printed with a number or a date here.
Show the same facts as a list
CheckStatus
F First-time buyer, or an exceptionAs of 10-28-2026
M Income within the county limitAs of 10-28-2026
A Price within the county limitAs of 10-28-2026
S A home that fits the programAsk a lender
O A home you will live inAsk a lender
S A credit score of 640 or higherAs of 10-28-2026

The 3-year rule, as a flow

If you have not owned and lived in a home in the last 3 years, you may meet the first-time buyer rule. If you have, other routes may still work. As of 10-28-2026.

Owned and lived in ahome, last 3 years?NoMay meet the first-time ruleYesTargeted area, qualified military and spouse, or ask a lender
Owned and lived in a home,last 3 years?NoYesMay meet thefirst-time ruleTargeted area,qualifiedmilitary andspouse, or ask alender
The 3-year rule as a flow, as of 10-28-2026. A lender confirms which route applies.
Show the same facts as a list
StepAnswer
Owned and lived in a home, last 3 years?No: May meet the first-time rule. Yes: Targeted area, qualified military and spouse, or ask a lender.

Down payment help, by option

THDA lists three kinds of down payment help. The bars show the most each one offers; the list underneath says how each one works. As of 10-28-2026.

ForgivablePaid backForgivable, up to $6,000. A forgivable 0% second mortgage over 10 years; due if the home is sold or refinanced earlier. As of 10-28-2026.Forgivable, up to $6,000$6,000Forgivable, up to $10,000. A forgivable 0% second mortgage over 10 years; due if the home is sold or refinanced earlier. As of 10-28-2026.Forgivable, up to $10,000$10,0005% of the price, up to $15,000. A 30-year loan paid down over time at the same rate as the first mortgage. As of 10-28-2026.5% of the price, up to $15,000$15,000New or proposed construction, up to $25,000. A 15-year 0% loan. As of 10-28-2026.New or proposed construction, upto $25,000$25,000
ForgivablePaid backForgivable, up to $6,000. A forgivable 0% second mortgage over 10 years; due if the home is sold or refinanced earlier. As of 10-28-2026.Forgivable, up to $6,000$6,000Forgivable, up to $10,000. A forgivable 0% second mortgage over 10 years; due if the home is sold or refinanced earlier. As of 10-28-2026.Forgivable, up to $10,000$10,0005% of the price, up to $15,000. A 30-year loan paid down over time at the same rate as the first mortgage. As of 10-28-2026.5% of the price, up to $15,000$15,000New or proposed construction, up to $25,000. A 15-year 0% loan. As of 10-28-2026.New or proposed construction, up to $25,000$25,000
The most each THDA down payment help option offers, as of 10-28-2026, from THDA's down payment help page. Green bars are forgivable; gold bars are paid back.
Show the same facts as a list
OptionThe most it offersHow it works
Forgivable, up to $6,000$6,000A forgivable 0% second mortgage over 10 years; due if the home is sold or refinanced earlier.
Forgivable, up to $10,000$10,000A forgivable 0% second mortgage over 10 years; due if the home is sold or refinanced earlier.
5% of the price, up to $15,000$15,000A 30-year loan paid down over time at the same rate as the first mortgage.
New or proposed construction, up to $25,000$25,000A 15-year 0% loan.

One chart that waits

The chart of Tennessee prices, rents and incomes waits on a cited source. No number from it is printed.

Limits vary by county and change. Ask a THDA-approved lender. THDA's own limits page.

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