Idaho · Idaho Housing
Franklin County Down Payment Assistance (2026)
If you are buying in Franklin County, you have two layers of help available: the statewide Idaho Housing programs, and whatever the county, city, or a local nonprofit is funding this year. The statewide layer is always open. The local layer is bigger and quieter.
Check Franklin County programs against your numbers
Income caps are set county by county and rise with household size. The Finder uses your county, not a statewide average.
Every program a Franklin County buyer can use
Local, statewide, and nationwide assistance side by side.
| Program | Amount | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IdaHousing HOA/FTHB DPA Idaho Housing and Finance Association · Idaho statewide | Up to $15,000 | Second mortgage | Up to $15,000 DPA as second mortgage. |
| Chenoa Fund Down Payment Assistance Chenoa Fund · Nationwide | Up to $25,000 (about 5%) | Forgivable | Buyers in states with thin assistance, buyers with credit in the 600s, and buyers who missed their state program's funding window. |
Statewide programs available in Franklin County
Every Idaho buyer can use these, wherever in the state the home sits.
Other Idaho programs we track
Editorial entries we are still verifying for the program database.
Idaho Housing Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance
Idaho Housing · Idaho
Up to 7% (as a second) or 3.5% (as a grant) — one of the largest DPA amounts in the country.
Program detailsFirst Loan
Idaho Housing · Idaho
Below-market fixed-rate FHA, VA, USDA, or Conv paired with the DPA above.
Program detailsHome Partnership Foundation Grants
Idaho Housing · Idaho
Additional grants for teachers, first responders, and rural buyers.
Program detailsHow to find local Franklin County money
- Run the Finder first — it surfaces the county and city programs we have already indexed for Idaho.
- Call the Franklin County housing or community development department and ask specifically for “homebuyer assistance” and “HOME program funds.”
- Ask the city you are buying in. City money is separate from county money and can often stack.
- Ask your lender which programs they are approved to originate. A program you qualify for is useless if your lender cannot write it.
- Check the Idaho Housing lender list for the local branches that close the most assistance files in your area.
Ask RED: “What down payment help is available in Franklin County, Idaho?”
Ask REDPrograms written for your job
Frequently asked questions
Is there down payment assistance in Franklin County?
Yes. Every buyer in Franklin County can use Idaho Housing's statewide programs, and many counties and cities run their own assistance on top. Local programs are usually larger but restricted to specific boundaries, and they can run out of money mid-year.
What is the income limit in Franklin County?
Income limits are set per county and rise with household size, so the number in Franklin County is not the same as the county next door. Run the Finder with your county and household size to see where you land.
Do I have to live in Franklin County to use a local program?
You have to buy in it. Local assistance follows the property, not your current address, so you can qualify for Franklin County help even if you rent somewhere else today.
What is down payment assistance in Franklin County?
Down payment assistance is money from a state, county, city, or nonprofit that helps cover your down payment and closing costs when you buy in Franklin County. Some of it is a grant you never repay, some is a loan that is forgiven after you live in the home for a set number of years, and some is a quiet second mortgage that you settle when you sell or refinance.
Who qualifies for down payment assistance?
Most programs look at four things: your household income compared to the area median, your credit score, whether you have owned a home in the last three years, and the purchase price of the home. You also have to live in the home as your primary residence, and most programs require a short homebuyer education course.
Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?
It depends on the structure. A true grant is never repaid. A forgivable loan is erased over a set number of years as long as you stay in the home. A deferred second mortgage is repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. A repayable second has a monthly payment from day one.
Can down payment assistance be used with an FHA loan?
Yes. FHA is the most common first mortgage under an assistance program because FHA specifically allows the down payment to come from a government agency. Assistance also pairs with conventional HomeReady and Home Possible loans, and with USDA and VA at some agencies.
What are the income limits for down payment assistance?
Most programs cap household income somewhere between 80% and 150% of the area median income, and the cap usually rises with household size. Because the limit is set by county, the same salary can qualify in one county and not the next one over.
Keep reading
Related resources
ReadinessIQ is a Homebuyer Readiness Platform, not the agency that funds these programs. We publish what the agencies publish, link to the official source, and tell you when a rule is likely to change. The agency and your lender make the final call on who qualifies.