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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Little Rock, AR (2026)
Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas and the seat of Pulaski County, is a growing metro with a median home price around $247,000 — well below the national average. Homebuyers in Little Rock can access several layers of assistance, including the City of Little Rock Down Payment Assistance Program offering up to $5,000 as a forgivable loan, the Southern Bancorp Wealth Builders program providing up to $12,000 in forgivable assistance, and the University District Development Corporation program with up to $20,000 for eligible buyers. At the state level, ADFA offers $1,000 to $15,000 in down payment assistance and the ADDI program provides up to $10,000 as a forgivable loan. By stacking local and state programs, qualified buyers could potentially access over $25,000 in combined assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Little Rock
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Little Rock Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 6% of the purchase price, not to exceed $5,000 | Yes | View → |
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage and reduced purchase price | No | View → |
| Southern Bancorp Wealth Builders DPA Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $12,000 | No | View → |
| University District Development Corporation First-Time Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| ADFA Down Payment Assistance Program | Repayable Loan | $1,000 to $15,000 for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| ADFA Move-Up Loan Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with competitive interest rates | No | View → |
| ADFA StartSmart First-Time Homebuyer Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market interest rate (approximately 1% below market rate) on a 30-year fixed mortgage | Yes | View → |
| Arkansas Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI) | Forgivable Loan | Up to 10% of the sale price, not to exceed $10,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 6% of the purchase price, not to exceed $5,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage and reduced purchase price
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $12,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- $1,000 to $15,000 for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with competitive interest rates
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market interest rate (approximately 1% below market rate) on a 30-year fixed mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 10% of the sale price, not to exceed $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Check your eligibility. Most programs require household income at or below 80% of the area median income for Pulaski County. Some programs like the ADFA Move-Up loan allow income up to $142,000. Review each program's specific requirements.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. Contact Southern Bancorp Community Partners for HUD-approved homebuyer counseling, or reach out to the Central Arkansas Team Care for the Homeless (CATCH), a HUD-approved counseling agency in Little Rock. The ADDI program requires 8 hours of counseling.
- Step 3:
Contact the City of Little Rock Housing and Neighborhood Programs at 501-371-6825 to check the current status and availability of the city's down payment assistance program.
- Step 4:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. For state programs, work with an ADFA-approved lender who can package the StartSmart or Move-Up first mortgage with $1,000 to $15,000 in DPA. For the Southern Bancorp Wealth Builders program, contact Southern Bancorp Community Partners directly.
- Step 5:
Find a home within program limits. The ADFA StartSmart program has a $500,000 purchase price limit. The city DPA program requires the home to be within Little Rock city limits. The UDDC program is limited to homes within the University District.
- Step 6:
Submit your applications. Work with your lender and housing counselor to submit applications for all programs you qualify for. Processing times vary, so apply early in your homebuying process.