Assistance program · Tennessee
Citywide DPA
City of Memphis help with the down payment and closing costs of a new or existing home within the city, for incomes up to 80% of the area median; the page does not state the amount
At a glance
- Kind of help
- Type not stated
- The source does not say the type of help
- First-time buyer?
- Not stated — ask
- The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- The source does not say the type of help
Only in: Memphis, Shelby County
What it gives
Source text
The OFFICE of DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE (DPA) provides funds to help meet the down payment and closing cost requirements needed to complete the closing of a new or existing home. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
All properties must be located within Memphis city limits or designated areas per program guidelines. … Citywide DPA – maximum income limit is 80% area median income, and may purchase anywhere in the city limits. - First-time buyers only Not stated — ask
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies Memphis, Shelby County
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Memphis
These are the official figures for the area the program covers. Use them to compare the price of the home you want and your household income with the program's limits.
The typical home value ($249,100) fits within Memphis's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program uses 80% of area median income (AMI). HUD publishes a median family income of $92,700 for Memphis.
| Figure | Shelby County | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $249,100 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $74,150 | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
-
Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
-
Apply with City of Memphis Office of Down Payment Assistance. Its page explains whether you apply directly or through a participating lender.
-
Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 10 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to City of Memphis Office of Down Payment Assistance.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- What is the most it gives, and how is it calculated?
- Is it only for first-time buyers?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Against the others
How it compares with Tennessee's other programs
The 2 programs we checked in Tennessee, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 2 programs in Tennessee, out of 2, whose page does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. None of the 2 publishes an amount with the figure in its own wording. It is the only program in Tennessee on our list with "type not stated" help. It is the only local program on the list; the others cover the whole state.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citywide DPAthis program | Type not stated | Not published | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Memphis, Shelby County |
| Great Choice Plus | Forgivable · Repayable | Not published | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
-
Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
-
Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
-
Help and programs
Public charge and housing: what the rules say
Public charge: which housing help DHS may consider, who is exempt, how HUD prorates assistance for mixed-status families and where to get free advice.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.