See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Hammond, IN (2026)
Hammond is a Northwest Indiana city in Lake County, part of the greater Chicago metropolitan area, with a median home price around $175,000. Homebuyers in Hammond have access to an exceptionally strong combination of local, county, and state programs. The City of Hammond Homebound Program provides up to $10,000 in down payment assistance for city police, fire, educational professionals, and city employees, and up to $2,500 for other qualifying buyers. The South Suburban Housing Center offers up to $15,000 in additional down payment assistance for Hammond purchases. The Lake County Homebuyer Assistance Program adds up to $5,000, and the IHCDA First Place Program provides up to 6% of the purchase price in state-level assistance. By stacking these programs, a Hammond buyer could potentially access over $30,000 in combined assistance — enough to cover a significant portion of the purchase price.
City Programs in Hammond
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Hammond Homebound Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 for Hammond police, fire, educational professionals, and full-time city employees; up to $2,500 for other income-qualifying buyers | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 for Hammond police, fire, educational professionals, and full-time city employees; up to $2,500 for other income-qualifying buyers
- First-time only:
- Yes
County Programs in Lake County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County Homebuyer Assistance Program | Grant | Up to $5,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $5,000
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Indiana
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHCDA First Place Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 6% of the purchase price | Yes | View → |
| IHCDA Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Tax Credit | Up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits | Yes | View → |
| IHCDA Next Home Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 3.5% of the purchase price (FHA) or 3% (Conventional) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 6% of the purchase price
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 3.5% of the purchase price (FHA) or 3% (Conventional)
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
- 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
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with no traditional down payment required | Yes | View → |
| South Suburban Housing Center NWI Down Payment Assistance | Grant | Up to $15,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with no traditional down payment required
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The City of Hammond Homebound Program requires first-time buyer status or not having owned a home in the past 12 months. Income restrictions apply. Hammond police, fire, educational professionals, and full-time city employees qualify for the full $10,000.
Contact the Hammond Community Development Department at (219) 853-6358 ext. 2 to learn about the Homebound Program and determine your eligibility.
Explore the South Suburban Housing Center's $15,000 down payment assistance program. Call (219) 932-4800. Note that this program requires conventional financing only (FHA, VA, and USDA loans are not eligible) and you must use a participating lender.
Apply for the Lake County Homebuyer Assistance Program for up to $5,000 in additional help. Contact the Lake County Community Economic Development Department at (219) 755-3225.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage through an IHCDA-approved lender to access state programs. The IHCDA First Place Program offers up to 6% of the purchase price, and the Next Home Program provides up to 3.5% for FHA loans.
Find a home within Hammond city limits. The Homebound Program works with both existing homes and new construction. Submit your applications and close on your home. The Homebound Program is forgivable after a five-year residency period.