See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 27, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Hattiesburg, MS (2026)
Hattiesburg is a vibrant university city in southeastern Mississippi known as the Hub City for its historic role as a railroad junction. Home to the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University, Hattiesburg offers an affordable housing market with a median home price around $185,000 — well below the national average.
First-time homebuyers in Hattiesburg have access to several layers of assistance. The City of Hattiesburg operates its own HOME-funded down payment assistance program offering up to $20,000 in forgivable loans. Mississippi Home Corporation provides statewide programs including the Smart6, Easy8, and Trusty10 options with thousands in down payment help. Additional support comes from nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity of the Pine Belt, the Grow Homeownership program through the Renaissance Community Loan Fund, the FHLB Dallas HELP grant program, and Southern Bancorp's Wealth Builders initiative.
With closing costs in the Hattiesburg area typically ranging from $3,500 to $5,500, many buyers find that combining city, state, and nonprofit programs can cover most or all of their upfront costs.
City Programs in Hattiesburg
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Hattiesburg Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
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 of the Pine Belt | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with no down payment | No | View → |
| Southern Bancorp Wealth Builders DPA Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $12,000 | 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 mortgage with no down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $12,000
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility for Mississippi Home Corporation statewide programs including Smart6, Easy8, Trusty10, and the Housing Assistance for Teachers program at mshomecorp.com
Step 2: Contact the City of Hattiesburg Community Development Department at (601) 554-1006 or email cdbg@hattiesburgms.com to learn about the city's $20,000 forgivable down payment assistance program
Step 3: Complete a homebuyer education course through a HUD-approved counseling agency, which is required for most programs
Step 4: Reach out to Southern Bancorp in Hattiesburg to ask about the Wealth Builders down payment assistance program offering up to $12,000 in forgivable assistance
Step 5: Contact the Renaissance Community Loan Fund at rclfms.com about the Grow Homeownership program and ask about accessing FHLB Dallas HELP grants of up to $20,000
Step 6: If you are interested in a Habitat for Humanity home, contact Habitat for Humanity of the Pine Belt at (601) 582-4663
Step 7: Work with a participating lender to combine the programs you qualify for and submit your mortgage application
Frequently Asked Questions
What down payment assistance programs are available in Hattiesburg?+−
What are the typical closing costs in Hattiesburg?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get help in Hattiesburg?+−
Can I combine multiple assistance programs in Hattiesburg?+−
What is the median home price in Hattiesburg?+−
Free eligibility check
Buying a home in Hattiesburg? 17 programs could help.
How soon are you looking to buy?