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Sullivan County, Washington County, Kingsport, Bristol TN, Johnson City, Bluff City (and Bristol VA)

Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium homeownership help

Low- and moderate-income first-time buyers in Sullivan and Washington counties, including Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City, can get $1,000 to $15,000 as a deferred loan.

Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium Affordable Home-Ownership Program

Funds limited

Sullivan County, Washington County, Kingsport, Bristol TN, Johnson City, Bluff City (and Bristol VA)

For
Low- and moderate-income buyers (80% AMI)
How much
$1,000 to $15,000 based on a subsidy analysis
Kind of help
Deferred loan, due later
Income cap
80% AMI (2026 dollar figures not posted; 2021 packet showed $47,700-$48,250 for a family of 4)
First-timers only?
Yes
Fine print
Homebuyer education before closing; principal residence; minimum buyer investment ($500 in the 2021-22 packet); Jonesborough town limits excluded per 2021-22 packet

Due-on-sale deferred loan. 2021-22 packet terms (10-year, forgiven 20%/yr in years 6-10; price caps $170K-$190K; no ownership in last 12 months) may be outdated. Call Rene' Mann, FTDD, 423-722-5122 before applying.

Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check

Could I use this?
Want a heads-up? Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium Affordable Home-Ownership Program runs on a limited pot of money that can run dry. We'll tell you when a new round is funded.

How the help is sized

This consortium pools federal HOME funds for the Tri-Cities. The City of Bristol, Tennessee leads it, and the First Tennessee Development District runs the program. Instead of a flat award, the amount comes from a subsidy analysis of your budget: anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000, enough to bridge the gap but no more. It is a deferred loan that is due on sale.

An older 2021-22 application packet described a 10-year loan forgiven 20% a year in years 6 through 10, plus price caps of $170,000 to $190,000. Those terms may be out of date. Treat them as history, not a promise.

Who qualifies

  • Household income at or below 80% AMI. 2026 dollar figures were not posted.
  • First-time buyers; the old packet defined that as no ownership in the past 12 months.
  • Buying a principal residence in Sullivan County, Washington County, Kingsport, Bristol TN, Johnson City or Bluff City. Bristol, Virginia is also in the consortium.
  • Homebuyer education before closing and a minimum buyer investment ($500 in the old packet).

The 2021-22 packet excluded Jonesborough town limits, so check any Jonesborough address first.

Using it alongside Homeownership for Heroes

THDA's limits here are $98,160 for one or two people in Sullivan County and $96,720 in Washington County, well above the consortium's 80% line. A Kingsport teacher with a modest household income might fit both. The consortium does not say whether its loan can sit behind a THDA first mortgage, so a participating lender confirms whether they combine. See the Sullivan County and Washington County guides for local detail, and learn how a sliding forgiveness schedule compares in our DPA types guide.

Why the subsidy analysis matters: the consortium gives what your budget needs, not the maximum. Buyers who bring more savings or pick a lower-priced home may get closer to $1,000 than $15,000. That is by design, so ask the program to walk you through its numbers and how a change in price would change your award.

Before you apply

Call Rene' Mann at the First Tennessee Development District, 423-722-5122, to get the current packet, income limits and price caps. Then check your THDA eligibility so you know your base loan.

Counties we cover that it serves: Sullivan County, Washington County

Questions about Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium Affordable Home-Ownership Program

Which cities does the Tri-Cities HOME Consortium cover?

Kingsport, Bristol TN, Johnson City, Bluff City and the rest of Sullivan and Washington counties, plus Bristol, Virginia. An older packet excluded Jonesborough town limits.

How much help can I get from the consortium?

From $1,000 to $15,000, set by a subsidy analysis of what you need.

Are the 2021 consortium terms still current?

Maybe not. Call the First Tennessee Development District at 423-722-5122 for current income limits, price caps and forgiveness terms.

Could I use this program?

Other programs worth a look

Summarized from the program's official page as of November 2026. Money and rules change, so check current terms with the program or a lender who takes part. Tennessee Down Payment Assistance has no connection to this program.