See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 10, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Dearborn Heights, MI (2026)
Dearborn Heights is a city of about 62,000 residents in Wayne County, situated between Dearborn and Garden City in the western Detroit suburbs. With a median home price around $220,000, it offers accessible homeownership in the metro Detroit area. While the city does not currently offer a traditional down payment assistance program, the Dearborn Heights Neighborhood Stabilization Program provides rehabbed foreclosed homes at below-market prices to low-income families. The Wayne Metro Community Action Agency Homebuyer Program offers up to $7,500 in forgivable assistance, and Habitat for Humanity of Western Wayne County serves the area with homeownership opportunities. At the state level, the MSHDA MI 10K DPA Loan provides up to $10,000 in down payment help, and the MSHDA First-Generation Down Payment Assistance program offers up to $25,000 for qualifying first-generation buyers. By combining state and nonprofit programs, Dearborn Heights buyers can access meaningful support toward their purchase.
City Programs in Dearborn Heights
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dearborn Heights Neighborhood Stabilization Program | Government Property Sale Program | Below-market purchase price on rehabbed foreclosed homes | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- Below-market purchase price on rehabbed foreclosed homes
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Michigan
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeBoost Down Payment Assistance | Grant | Up to $15,000 (up to $25,000 through some participating lenders) | Yes | View → |
| MSHDA First-Generation Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to $25,000 | Yes | View → |
| MSHDA MI 10K DPA Loan | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 (up to $25,000 through some participating lenders)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
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 → |
| 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:
- 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 Western Wayne County Homeownership Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $12,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for partner families | No | View → |
| Wayne Metro Community Action Agency Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $7,500 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $12,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for partner families
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most assistance programs require household income at or below 80% of the area median income for Wayne County. The MSHDA MI Home Loan is available to first-time buyers statewide and repeat buyers in targeted areas.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Contact Wayne Metro Community Action Agency at (313) 388-9799 for free HUD-approved housing counseling and education workshops. MSHDA programs require completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course.
Step 3: Explore the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Contact the City of Dearborn Heights CEDD Office at 313-791-3504 or email ramen@ci.dearborn-heights.mi.us to ask about available rehabbed properties offered at below-market rates.
Step 4: Contact Wayne Metro for assistance. Wayne Metro Community Action Agency provides up to $7,500 in forgivable down payment assistance and can help coordinate your application.
Step 5: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an MSHDA-approved lender to qualify for the MI Home Loan with up to $10,000 in down payment assistance. Ask about the First-Generation DPA program if neither you nor your parents have owned a home.
Step 6: Find a home and submit your application. Work with your housing counselor and lender to coordinate all assistance programs with your purchase. Habitat for Humanity of Western Wayne County is another option for qualifying families seeking affordable homeownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Dearborn Heights?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Why is Dearborn Heights excluded from the Wayne County DPA program?+−
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