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First Home Buyer Help
Evergreen Housing Foundation
- Funding
- $100,000 – $250,000
- Deadline
- Sep 30, 2026
- Eligibility
- First-time home buyers purchasing a primary residence, with documented savings and stable income.
Home Ownership
First Home Buyer Grants & Down-Payment Assistance
Down-payment assistance and first home buyer grants from $100,000 to $250,000. See eligibility, required documents and how to apply with expert support.
First Home Buyer Grants, explained honestly.
For most first-time buyers, the down payment — not the monthly payment — is the real barrier. First home buyer programmes are designed to close that gap with grants, forgivable assistance or deferred second liens that reduce the cash needed at closing.
The Evergreen First Home Buyer Fund in our catalogue provides $100,000 to $250,000 per applicant, released through verified escrow at closing. The assistance is forgivable after five years of continuous primary-residence occupancy, so it behaves like a grant if you stay in the home.
This page explains who qualifies, what the money can cover and the documents you will need. FedOP can review your file before you commit to a lender or a property, and support the application through to closing.
Last reviewed Aug 29, 2026. Programme rules and deadlines can change — always confirm details on the official source before submitting.
Who typically qualifies
- First-time buyers who have not owned a home in the past three years.
- Purchasing a primary residence in an eligible area — not an investment property or second home.
- Household income within the programme's limits.
- A documented mortgage pre-approval from a participating or accepted lender.
- Completion of a homebuyer education course (free options are available).
- A sales contract or letter of intent for the property.
What the funding covers
- Down-payment assistance at closing.
- Closing costs where the programme permits.
- Financial-readiness coaching and homebuyer education.
- Escrow coordination so funds reach the transaction, never the applicant.
- Reservation of funds for a 90-day closing window.
Live Opportunities
Current First Home Buyer Grants.
Every listing below is researched and verified. Open an opportunity for full eligibility detail, required documents and the official source link.
Application Path
How to apply, step by step.
The same five-stage path applies whether you handle the application yourself or engage FedOP for support.
- 01
Take the homebuyer course
Complete the required education component early — it is free and removes a common cause of delay later in the process.
- 02
Get mortgage pre-approval
The programme builds on lender underwriting. A clean pre-approval letter is part of the minimum file.
- 03
Submit the pre-application
We assemble income documentation, tax returns, identification and the pre-approval into one reviewed package.
- 04
Receive eligibility confirmation
Once confirmed, funds are reserved for a 90-day window while you finalise the purchase.
- 05
Close with escrow
Assistance is released to verified escrow at closing. Annual occupancy confirmation keeps the award forgivable.
Not sure whether your file is ready? A short intake is enough for us to confirm fit and map a realistic application path.
Start intakeFAQ
First Home Buyer Grants, Answered.
Direct answers to the questions applicants ask most often about this category.
Full grant FAQIs first home buyer assistance a grant or a loan?
It depends on the programme. The Evergreen fund is structured as forgivable assistance: it is released at closing and forgiven after five years of continuous primary-residence occupancy. Selling or converting the home earlier can trigger partial repayment.
Do I need perfect credit?
The programme does not replace lender underwriting. You still need a mortgage pre-approval, so your credit must meet the lender's criteria. The assistance itself focuses on income limits and buyer status.
Can I buy any property?
No. The home must be a primary residence in an eligible area and within programme price limits. Investment properties, second homes and refinancing are excluded.
Can I combine this with other assistance?
Often yes, but every funding source must be disclosed. Stacking too much assistance can affect lender approval, so we review the full capital stack before submission.
What happens if I sell within five years?
The forgiveness period resets the economics: selling or converting the property early typically triggers partial repayment on a sliding scale defined in the programme terms.
FedOP supports applicants in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and participating global programmes.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Your next funding opportunity starts here.
Tell us about your goals and let FedOP help you navigate the next step.
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- Careful data handling
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