Down payment assistance

Down payment assistance in Delaware

1 program can help buyers in Delaware with a down payment and closing costs. Most are for first-time buyers with moderate incomes and are used with a participating lender.

Check which programs fit your situationDown payment assistance finder

Delaware Mortgage Program down payment assistance (First State, Keys4You, Take5)

Open · Deferred loan

First State: 3% of the first mortgage loan amount. Keys4You: 4%. Take5: 5% (Welcome Home first-time buyers only)

A zero-interest second mortgage with no monthly payments, paired with a Delaware Mortgage Program 30-year fixed first mortgage. It is not forgiven: payment is deferred until refinance, sale, transfer of title, or the home is no longer the primary residence. DSHA rebranded its programs in April 2026 (formerly Preferred Plus/First State Home Loan); a 5% Diamond in the Rough option exists for FHA 203(k) limited purchases.

Who qualifies: Welcome Home: first-time homebuyers. Open Door: first-time and repeat buyers (3% or 4% options only). Minimum credit score 620; scores of 659 or below require housing counseling. Income limits by county and household size (Welcome Home: $122,700/$141,105 in New Castle; $111,400/$128,110 in Kent and Sussex). Purchase price limits $659,385 (New Castle) and $566,354 (Kent and Sussex); higher in targeted areas.

Delaware State Housing Authority · Agency website → · Checked 2026-09-30

How assistance usually works

Most programs are a second loan with no monthly payment that is forgiven over time or repaid when you sell or refinance, and some are grants. You usually need a program first mortgage from a participating lender, a homebuyer education course and income under the program’s limit. Apply before you make offers, so your pre-approval reflects the help.

More for Delaware

Delaware closing costs Delaware property taxes Where can I afford to buy in Delaware?Down payment timeline

Programs change often; confirm the details with the agency.