Increase your buying power in Arkansas
10 homebuyer assistance programs in Arkansas put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 10 programs tell us about buying in Arkansas
One statewide program
Only ADFA’s down payment loan covers all of Arkansas: up to $15,000, repaid over 10 years alongside your first mortgage.
Local help is city by city
Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Jacksonville and Pine Bluff each run their own programs, paying $3,000 to $20,000.
Lenders double the options
10 multi-state bank, credit union and Federal Home Loan Bank programs are also open in eligible Arkansas areas, as many as the in-state list.
How the help arrives · 10 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
1 programs are available statewide. 9 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 10 Arkansas programs and 10 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in Arkansas
A few of the 10 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
ADFA Down Payment Assistance Program
Arkansas Development Finance AuthorityDown payment and closing cost help for a primary residence anywhere in Arkansas. Can be combined with other ADFA programs.
University District First-Time Homebuyer Program
University District Development CorporationFor first-time buyers purchasing a new or renovated home from the UDDC, at or below 80% of area median income.
Little Rock Down Payment Assistance Program
City of Little RockUp to 6% of the price, capped at $10,000, for first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income. Counseling required.
Fort Smith Homebuyers Assistance Program
Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership CenterUp to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs, plus up to $40,000 more to write down the purchase price.
TruService Down Payment Assistance
TruService Community Federal Credit Union6% of the price up to $6,000, for buyers who have not owned a home in three years, at or below 80% of area median income.
Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance
City of JonesboroHelp with down payment and closing costs for first-time buyers purchasing inside city limits.
10 multi-state programs also serve Arkansas
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
FHLBank Dallas Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP)
Grant · 5 states Check eligibilityThese are 4 of the 10 multi-state programs open to Arkansas buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in Arkansas
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every Arkansas program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
Arkansas homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Arkansas?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 8 Arkansas programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $8,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
6 of the 10 active programs (60%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 3 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. Many Arkansas programs are open to repeat buyers, and most first-time rules count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 1 program we track in Arkansas are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. Arkansas has 1 programs available statewide and 9 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in Arkansas, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.