In short
Down payment assistance (DPA) is a grant, forgivable second or repayable second that helps cover your down payment and closing costs alongside a first mortgage like FHA, conventional, VA or USDA. Waymaker Mortgage Company offers dozens of national, Texas, Florida and Ohio programs, with credit minimums starting at 580. Eligibility depends on property location, income limits and loan type.
Reviewed by Scottie Campbell, NMLS #1610726 · Last updated October 18, 2026
What down payment assistance programs can I use?
Through Waymaker Mortgage Company, you can access dozens of down payment assistance programs: national programs like Orion Boost Down Payment Assistance, EQUO DPA, Chenoa Fund and Freddie Mac BorrowSmart, plus Texas programs from TSAHC and TDHCA, Florida Housing programs, and OHFA programs in Ohio. Credit minimums start at 580. Availability depends on property location, income limits and loan type, and I confirm eligibility per program before you commit to anything.
Key takeaways
If saving for a down payment is the thing standing between you and a home, you're not alone, and you may not have to wait. I'm Scottie Campbell, Mortgage Advisor and founder of Waymaker Mortgage Company. I work with dozens of national, state and local down payment assistance programs, and I'll show you which ones fit your scenario, how each one works, and what it really costs over time.
Down Payment Help Is More Available Than Most People Think
Quite frankly, the down payment is where a lot of good buyers get stuck. They have steady income, they pay their bills, and they still can't see how to save a big chunk of cash while paying rent. I've been doing this since 2003, and I can tell you that a short savings account is a very common reason people wait. It's also one of the most solvable.
At Waymaker Mortgage Company, I have access to dozens of national, state and local down payment assistance (DPA) programs, many of which most banks don't offer. My job is to educate and empower you. Your job is to decide. So below is the actual list of programs I work with, grouped the way I think about them.
One important note before the list: DPA availability depends on property location, income limits and loan type, and eligibility is confirmed per program. Some programs are grants, some are forgivable, some are repayable second liens. I'll walk you through the terms of any program before you commit to it.
How DPA Fits With Your First Mortgage
Down payment assistance isn't a loan type by itself. It sits alongside a first mortgage, usually FHA, conventional, VA or USDA, and helps cover the down payment, closing costs or both. What that means for you is that we pick the right first mortgage and the right assistance together, as one plan.
The minimum credit score to get started is 580, through Orion Boost Down Payment Assistance and EQUO DPA. Many other programs start at 600, 620, 640 or 660, and I've listed those floors below where they apply.
National Programs
These are nationwide investor programs. Most exclude only New York or Washington, so I confirm state eligibility per program.
- Orion Boost Down Payment Assistance (580)
- EQUO DPA (580)
- Orion Aurora DPA
- Orion Elevate DPA Grant
- BFF DPA (600)
- Axis DPA (600)
- Supreme Lending National DPA (600)
- Chenoa Fund (600)
- MaxONE, MaxONE Plus and MaxONE Home Assist (620)
- LoanLift, LoanLift Plus and LoanLift Max (620)
- MLB Remarkable 2% and 3.5% DPA (620)
- MLB Energy-Smart DPA (620)
- EPM HomeStart DPA (620)
- Within Reach Conventional DPA (620)
- UWM Conventional 1% Down (620)
- HomeZero Repayable DPA and HomeZero Forgivable DPA
- TRUE ZERO
- SmartBuy DPA (640 forgivable, 660 repayable)
- Windsor DPA Program (660)
- Gold Star Select and Gold Star Advantage (660)
- HomeFundIt
- Freddie Mac BorrowSmart
Some of these pair with FHA, and others (like Within Reach Conventional DPA, UWM Conventional 1% Down and Freddie Mac BorrowSmart) are built around conventional financing. I'll match the program to the loan that fits your file.
Texas Statewide Programs
Since I'm based in Georgetown, TX, these are the programs I use most often for Texas buyers.
- TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes
- TSAHC Home Sweet Texas (620 government, 640 conventional)
- TDHCA My First Texas Home
- TDHCA My Choice Texas Home (620)
- SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage (640; not available in Travis County)
Homes for Texas Heroes is aimed at eligible professions such as veterans and service members, and the TDHCA programs are a strong fit for many first-time buyers. Each has its own income and purchase limits, which I check against your household and the property.
Texas Local Programs
Local programs are tied to a specific city or county, so the property address matters most here.
- Travis County HFC Hill Country Home DPA (660; Travis County; no first-time buyer requirement)
- Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP)
- City of Houston Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) (up to $75,000 inside city limits)
Florida Programs
I'm licensed in Florida too, and Florida has a deep bench of statewide and county programs. All Florida Housing programs start at a 640 credit score.
Florida statewide:
- Florida Housing Florida Assist
- Florida Housing FL HLP Second Mortgage
- Florida Housing HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage
- Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program (subject to annual funding)
Florida local:
- Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County First-Time Homebuyer Program with Home Key Plus Second Mortgage (660)
- HFA of Pinellas County Home Key Program (Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties)
- HFA of Hillsborough County Home Sweet Home Program
- Escambia County HFA Homeownership Program DPA (up to $10,000, 0% deferred; serves 21 Florida counties)
Ohio Programs
Ohio buyers have strong options as well.
Ohio statewide:
- OHFA Down Payment Assistance
- OHFA Grants for Grads
- Ohio Heroes
- OHFA Next Home (640 conventional, VA and USDA; 650 FHA)
Ohio local:
- City of Columbus American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI)
How I Help You Pick the Right Program
A long list is only useful if someone helps you narrow it down. Here's how I do that:
- Start with your scenario. Credit, income, household size, savings, and where you want to buy.
- Match the first mortgage. FHA, conventional, VA or USDA, depending on what fits you best.
- Filter the DPA list. Location, income limits, loan type and credit floor knock out programs fast, and what's left is your real menu.
- Run a Total Cost Analysis. A grant, a forgivable second and a repayable second each cost you differently over the time you own the home. I'll lay those side by side so you can see the trade-offs, not just the cash you save at closing.
- Get your Greenlight Approval. I pre-underwrite as many files as possible up front, so your offer with DPA can still compete with buyers bringing more cash.
Why Working With Me Matters for DPA
Each DPA program closes through an investor partner approved for that program. Waymaker Mortgage Company works with multiple investor partners, which is a big reason I can offer so many programs. A bank usually has one underwriting desk and a short list of programs. If one investor's guidelines don't fit your file, I take it to one that does.
You're talking to the owner of this company. I'm also a real estate investor myself, so I look at your purchase the way I'd look at my own: what does this cost over time, and does it set you up well?
If You're Not Quite Ready Yet
Can't do it now doesn't mean can't do it ever. If your credit is a little below a program's floor, or your income is just above a limit, we'll build a Mortgage Action Plan with specific steps and a timeline. It's never a no. It's always a how.
When you're ready, feel free to text me or start your application. I'll check your eligibility across these programs and get you rocking and rolling.
Information on this page is general and educational. It is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Down payment assistance availability depends on property location, income limits and loan type, and eligibility is confirmed per program. Programs, funding, guidelines and eligibility change and depend on your full scenario. Waymaker Mortgage Company, NMLS 2440476. Equal Housing Lender.
Quick facts
- Minimum credit score
- 580 (Orion Boost Down Payment Assistance and EQUO DPA)
- Program groups
- National, Texas statewide and local, Florida, Ohio
- Pairs with
- FHA, conventional, VA or USDA first mortgages
- Assistance types
- Grants, forgivable seconds, repayable seconds
- Eligibility
- Depends on property location, income limits and loan type; confirmed per program
- Occupancy
- Primary residence
Is this loan right for you?
Who it's for
- Buyers with steady income whose main hurdle is cash for the down payment and closing costs
- First-time buyers, including those using FHA with 580+ credit
- Veterans, service members and other eligible professions who may qualify for targeted programs
- Households within a program's income limits buying a primary residence in an eligible area
Who it may not fit
- Investors or second-home buyers (DPA programs are generally for primary residences)
- Buyers whose household income is above every program's limit for their area
- Buyers who already have the cash and would pay more over time by using a repayable second
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dozens of national, state and local programs, many not offered by most banks
- Credit minimums starting at 580
- Options include grants, forgivable seconds and repayable seconds
- Pairs with FHA, conventional, VA and USDA first mortgages
- Multiple investor partners, so your file can go where the guidelines fit
Trade-offs to weigh
- Income limits, purchase limits and location rules apply and vary by program
- Repayable seconds add a second lien you'll repay when you sell, refinance or pay off the home
- Some programs have limited or annual funding
Frequently asked questions
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance?
The minimum starts at 580 through Orion Boost Down Payment Assistance and EQUO DPA. Many other programs start at 600, 620, 640 or 660. If you're just below a program's floor, I'll build a Mortgage Action Plan to get you there. Can't do it now doesn't mean can't do it ever.
Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?
It depends on the program. Some are grants, some are forgivable over time, and some are repayable second liens (SmartBuy DPA, for example, has both forgivable and repayable versions). I'll explain exactly how any program works and show you the long-term cost in a Total Cost Analysis before you decide.
Which Texas programs do you offer?
Statewide, I offer TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes, TSAHC Home Sweet Texas, TDHCA My First Texas Home, TDHCA My Choice Texas Home and SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage (not available in Travis County). Locally, I offer Travis County HFC Hill Country Home DPA, the Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) and the City of Houston Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP). Eligibility depends on location, income limits and loan type.
Can I use DPA if I'm buying outside Texas?
Yes, where I'm licensed. I'm licensed in Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The national programs work in most states (most exclude only New York or Washington), and I also offer Florida Housing programs, Florida Hometown Heroes (subject to annual funding), county programs in Florida, and OHFA programs plus Columbus ADDI in Ohio.
Does down payment assistance make my offer weaker?
It doesn't have to. I pre-underwrite as many files as possible up front with Greenlight Approval, which is the highest assurance of approval available before you shop. That lets a DPA buyer make an offer a seller can trust.
Why don't more lenders offer these programs?
Each DPA program closes through an investor partner approved for that specific program. Most banks have one underwriting desk and a short program list. Waymaker Mortgage Company works with multiple investor partners, so I can offer far more programs and move your file to the one that fits.
What about my interest rate with DPA?
Your rate depends on your scenario and the day's market. Reach out and I'll price it for real, and I'll show you how each DPA option affects your total cost over the time you own the home.
Related loan programs
A reduced payment for your first two years, often funded by the seller or builder, with straight answers on whether it fits your plans.
Low down payment options, dozens of down payment assistance programs and a Greenlight Approval that helps your offer compete. It's never a no. It's always a how.
Flexible credit, low down payment, and dozens of assistance programs. I'll show you how FHA fits your plan, then you decide.
Last updated October 18, 2026 · Reviewed by Scottie Campbell, NMLS #1610726. This page is educational and not a commitment to lend; program details change — ask for current figures.