See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 10, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Portage, MI (2026)

Population: 49,975 | Median home price: $275,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,500 - $8,500

Portage is a growing city in Kalamazoo County in southwest Michigan with a median home price around $275,000. Homebuyers in Portage can access several programs at the city, county, and state level. The City of Portage offers CDBG-funded down payment assistance for income-eligible buyers purchasing in target neighborhoods, and the Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to $5,000 in down payment help plus $2,000 in closing costs through a partnership with Independent Bank. KNHS Down Payment Assistance offers up to $5,000 to $15,000 depending on income and funding, and the LMCU HomeAssist program provides up to $10,000 for qualifying first-time buyers. Combined with MSHDA state programs offering up to $10,000 through the MI 10K DPA Loan and up to $25,000 through the First-Generation DPA, Portage buyers have the potential to stack significant assistance toward their home purchase.

City Programs in Portage

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Portage CDBG Down Payment Assistance	Grant	Varies based on need and funding availability	Yes	View →

City of Portage CDBG Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Varies based on need and funding availability
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Kalamazoo County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program	Grant	Up to $5,000 from Treasurer plus up to $2,000 from Independent Bank for closing costs	Yes	View →

Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $5,000 from Treasurer plus up to $2,000 from Independent Bank for closing costs
First-time only:: Yes

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 →

HomeBoost Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $15,000 (up to $25,000 through some participating lenders)
First-time only:: Yes

MSHDA First-Generation Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $25,000
First-time only:: Yes

MSHDA MI 10K DPA Loan

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 →

FHA Loans

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

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

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

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

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

HUD $100 Down Program

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

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

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
Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Forgivable Loan	Below-market-price homes with affordable mortgage terms	No	View →
KNHS Down Payment Assistance Program	Grant	Up to $5,000 to $15,000 depending on income and funding availability	No	View →
LMCU HomeAssist Down Payment Assistance	Zero-Interest Loan	Up to $10,000 (up to $15,000 in targeted areas)	Yes	View →

Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Below-market-price homes with affordable mortgage terms
First-time only:: No

KNHS Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $5,000 to $15,000 depending on income and funding availability
First-time only:: No

LMCU HomeAssist Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to $10,000 (up to $15,000 in targeted areas)
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

15 programs available in Portage. See which ones you qualify for.

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Question 1 of 6

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Portage-area programs require household income at or below 80% to 120% of the Area Median Income for Kalamazoo County. The Kalamazoo County Treasurer program allows incomes up to 120% AMI, while the City of Portage CDBG program requires income at or below 80% AMI.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Contact Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services (KNHS) at 269-364-2533 for HUD-certified homebuyer education and counseling. KNHS is a NeighborWorks America member and offers free classes covering budgeting, credit, and the home-buying process. Completing their program may also qualify you for KNHS down payment assistance.

Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact Independent Bank at 269-491-3049 to explore the Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program, which requires financing through Independent Bank. You can also work with any MSHDA-approved lender to access state-level programs like the MI Home Loan with up to $10,000 in DPA.

Step 4: Apply for down payment assistance. For the City of Portage CDBG program, contact Tina Perry at 269-324-9280. For the Kalamazoo County Treasurer program (up to $5,000 DPA plus $2,000 closing costs), work with Independent Bank. For KNHS DPA (up to $5,000 to $15,000), contact KNHS at 269-364-2533.

Step 5: Find a home in Portage. Work with your real estate agent to find a home that meets program requirements. The City of Portage CDBG program is limited to select target neighborhoods, while the Kalamazoo County program covers all of Kalamazoo County. You must contribute at least $1,000 toward the purchase for the county program.

Step 6: Close on your home. Your lender and housing counselor will coordinate the assistance funds at closing. Allow extra processing time for program paperwork and approvals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Portage?+

Portage buyers can access multiple programs. The Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to $5,000 in down payment help plus $2,000 in closing costs from Independent Bank. KNHS offers $5,000 to $15,000 depending on income and funding availability. The City of Portage offers CDBG-funded DPA for eligible buyers in target neighborhoods. The LMCU HomeAssist program provides up to $10,000 for qualifying first-time buyers. At the state level, MSHDA offers up to $10,000 through the MI 10K DPA Loan and up to $25,000 through the First-Generation DPA. Combining eligible programs could mean significant savings.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+

Not for all programs. The Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program does not require first-time buyer status, and neither does the KNHS DPA program. The City of Portage CDBG program is generally for first-time buyers. The LMCU HomeAssist program requires first-time buyer status. MSHDA programs are typically for first-time buyers, though repeat buyers may qualify in targeted areas.

What is the maximum home price I can purchase with assistance?+

The MSHDA purchase price limit for Michigan is $544,233 as of 2026, which covers most homes in Portage where the median price is around $275,000. The City of Portage and Kalamazoo County programs do not specify a maximum purchase price, though assistance may be limited to homes in certain neighborhoods or price ranges.

What homebuyer education is required?+

The Kalamazoo County Treasurer program and City of Portage CDBG program both require pre-purchase homebuyer counseling. Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services (KNHS) at 269-364-2533 offers HUD-certified homebuyer education and counseling. KNHS is a NeighborWorks America member and provides free classes. Housing Resources Inc. at 269-382-0287 is another local resource for housing counseling.

Can I combine the Kalamazoo County program with MSHDA assistance?+

In many cases, yes. The Kalamazoo County Treasurer Homebuyer Assistance Program (up to $5,000 DPA plus $2,000 closing costs through Independent Bank) can potentially be layered with MSHDA state programs. However, the county program requires financing through Independent Bank, so check with your lender about compatibility. KNHS DPA can also be stacked with other programs depending on the funder requirements. Contact KNHS at 269-364-2533 for guidance on combining programs.