See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 27, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Gulfport, MS (2026)
Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi, located on the Gulf of Mexico in Harrison County and serving as the co-county seat alongside Biloxi. With a median home price around $215,000, Gulfport offers affordable coastal living with access to multiple homebuyer assistance programs. While the city does not currently offer its own city-funded down payment assistance, buyers here can tap into strong nonprofit and state resources including the Grow Homeownership Mississippi program from Renaissance Community Loan Fund providing $10,000 in deferred down payment assistance, the FHLB Dallas HELP Program offering up to $20,000 in grants through local lenders like RCLF, and Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast which provides affordable mortgage financing. State programs from the Mississippi Home Corporation add another $6,000 to $10,000 in potential assistance through the Smart6, Easy8, and Trusty10 programs. By combining nonprofit and state programs, eligible Gulfport buyers could receive $30,000 or more in total assistance.
State Programs in Mississippi
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHC Easy8 Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $8,000 | Yes | View → |
| MHC Housing Assistance for Teachers (HAT) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $6,000 | No | View → |
| MHC Smart6 Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $6,000 | No | View → |
| MHC Trusty10 Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to $10,000 | No | View → |
| Mississippi Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Grant | Up to $2,000 per year (tax credit) | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $8,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $6,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $6,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $2,000 per year (tax credit)
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLB Dallas HELP Program | Grant | Up to $20,000 | Yes | View → |
| Grow Homeownership Mississippi (RCLF) | Deferred Loan | $10,000 | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity MS Gulf Coast Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home with below-market financing | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home with below-market financing
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most programs serving Gulfport require household income at or below 80% AMI for the Grow Homeownership Mississippi program, or up to 120% AMI for Habitat for Humanity. State programs through Mississippi Home Corporation have income limits up to $122,000 depending on the program.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Renaissance Community Loan Fund (RCLF) in Gulfport is a HUD-approved counseling agency that provides free homebuyer education and financial counseling. Contact them at their Gulfport office. Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast also offers free homebuyer education.
Step 3: Contact a local housing partner. For the Grow Homeownership Mississippi program and FHLB Dallas HELP Program, contact Renaissance Community Loan Fund at their Gulfport office at 2214 34th Street. For affordable homeownership, contact Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast at (228) 678-9100.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. For the RCLF programs, you must get pre-approved through Renaissance Community Loan Fund or Gum Tree Mortgage. For state programs, work with a Mississippi Home Corporation participating lender.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. The MHC Smart6 program caps the purchase price at $275,000 in most areas and $332,000 in targeted areas. The Grow Homeownership Mississippi program requires the home to be in Harrison County and your primary residence.
Step 6: Submit your application and close. Work with your lender and housing counselor to submit applications for each program you qualify for. The FHLB Dallas HELP Program is first-come, first-served, so apply early when funding rounds open.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Gulfport, MS?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay using these programs?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What makes Gulfport unique for homebuyers?+−
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