How We Can Help

So you want to buy a home – that’s great! Last year, nearly 2,300 Delaware families just like yours used the programs at Delaware State Housing Authority to buy a home. We have options for first-time and repeat homebuyers alike so if you’re just starting on your homeownership journey or if your family has recently expanded and you need a bigger house – we can help!

Homeownership Loans

A DSHA mortgage is a 30-year, fixed-rate loan with interest rates at or below the standard market rate for qualified buyers. That means you get a better deal! Our loans work through standard mortgage programs, including conventional, VA, FHA and USDA mortgages. And it doesn’t matter if you’re buying for the first time or have owned a house before.

Eligibility

  • Maximum household income must be at or below the following limits:
    • New Castle County
      • 1-2 people: $126,480
      • 3 or more people: $158,100
    • Kent & Sussex County
      • 1-2 people: $116,280
      • 3 or more people: $145,350
  • Minimum credit score of 620. (Applicants with credit scores of 659 or below must participate in housing counseling.)
  • Maximum loan amount is $417,000. There is no purchase price limit.

Income limits may vary for Conventional loans based upon location and AMI restrictions.

DSHA also offers down payment and closing cost assistance as well as a First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. Scroll for more info on those programs!

If you’re ready to get started in the homebuying process, reach out to one of the participating lenders and let them know you’re interested in using DSHA’s programs to buy a home.

LENDERs

Down Payment Assistance and Closing Cost Help

Buying a house can be a big deal with lots of money required upfront. If saving enough for a down payment and closing costs have kept you from buying a home of your own, DSHA’s Preferred Plus program may be able to help.

All applicants using a DSHA Homeownership Loan can use our flexible, customized Preferred Plus assistance, which provides a no-interest second mortgage loan of 2 percent to 5 percent of your overall loan amount. You can apply that amount toward down payment or closing costs. The loan must be repaid upon the sale, transfer, or refinance of the home, or when it is no longer your primary residence.

To qualify for Preferred Plus, you must meet all requirements for a Homeownership Loan, outlined above.

For First-Time Homebuyers

Delaware has a special tax credit for first-time homebuyers that can help make your home more affordable. You can claim part of the annual interest paid on your mortgage (35% of the interest) as a special federal tax credit, up to $2,000 a year. The credit simply reduces your federal tax owed – a dollar-for-dollar savings! And you can use the tax credit along with our down payment and closing cost program. Just apply through one of our participating lenders.

Here’s how it works. If you borrow $150,000 at a 3.75% interest rate, you will pay about $5,625 in mortgage interest in the first year. With the tax credit, you can reduce your federal income tax liability by $1,968 for the year.

See below for eligibility requirements, additional property qualifications and targeted areas for the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, when you reach out to a participating lender, let them know you are interested in using DSHA’s homeownership programs and taking advantage of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. You must use a DSHA participating lender in order to take advantage of the tax credit.

Eligibility Requirements for the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit:

  • Buyer must purchase a home within the State of Delaware.
  • Buyer(s) cannot have owned a home in the past three years as his or her primary residence unless purchasing a home in a Targeted Area or the homebuyer is utilizing the Qualified Veteran Exemption.
  • Household income and the purchase price must not exceed the maximum limits set by the Program.
  • Buyer must occupy the home as his or her primary residence.
  • Buyer must complete all tax credit documents at time of closing.

Maximum household income for eligibility is as follows:

CountyArea1 or 2 Person Households3 or More Person Households
New Castle CountyNon Targeted Areas$105,400$121,210
Targeted Areas$126,480$147,560
Kent & Sussex CountiesNon Targeted Areas$96,900$111,435
Targeted Areas$116,280$135,660

Property Qualifications for Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

To qualify for the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, a property’s purchase price cannot exceed the below limits for each county.

County1 Unit2 Unit3 Unit4 Unit
New Castle$396,527$463,733$560,574$696,656
Kent$349,525$447,542$540,930$672,290
Sussex$349,525$447,542$540,930$672,290

Targeted Areas
Income limits and purchase price limits are higher for homes purchased in targeted areas. The first-time homebuyer requirement is also waived, allowing repeat buyers who purchase a primary residence in a targeted area to apply for the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. Check if the property you want to purchase is located in a targeted area by clicking on the link below.

  • Targeted areas include the following Census Tracts:
    • New Castle County: 6.01, 6.02, 9, 16, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30.02, 156
    • Kent County: none at this time
    • Sussex County: 505.03
    • To see if your selected property is in a qualified targeted area census tract, please click here.

Homebuyers who meet the above requirements can apply for the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit by contacting a participating lender.
LENDERs

DSHA 203(K) Program

FHA’s rehabilitation and repair program. Can be paired with a DSHA second mortgage for closing costs and down payment assistance.

The 203(K) program combines the cost of the home purchase and renovation into one mortgage. It allows buyers to purchase property and make improvements after closing.