Is the City of Knoxville down payment program still open?
Only partly. The City of Knoxville Downpayment Assistance Program, run by Housing & Neighborhood Development, says applications are closed except for homes developed by Home Source East Tennessee, Neighborhood Housing Inc. or East Tennessee Housing Development Corp. If you buy one of those homes, household income must stay below $55,650 for one person, $71,550 for three or $79,500 for four, up to $104,950 for eight. Homebuyer education must come from Home Source East Tennessee, the Knoxville Area Urban League or UT Extension. The city does not post a dollar amount, so ask the program contact, Kevin DuBose at (865) 215-2865.
That makes the nonprofit builders the real front door in Knoxville. The city points low- and moderate-income buyers to the homes these three groups build or renovate, and ETHDC also offers coaching plus down payment and closing-cost help. Call ETHDC at 865-281-3130, Home Source at 865-637-1679 or Neighborhood Housing at 865-524-2774 ext. 106 to ask what is for sale.
If none of their homes fits, THDA still applies everywhere in Knox County. That includes Farragut and unincorporated areas. Income limits run $103,700 for one or two people and $119,255 for three or more, with a $500,000 price cap. Knox County Schools teachers, Knoxville Police and Knoxville Fire Department employees can use Homeownership for Heroes for the 0.5% rate cut. The Knox County guide has the details, and our guide to grant vs forgivable vs repayable help explains the trade-offs.
Programs in Knoxville
City of Knoxville Downpayment Assistance Program
PausedCity of Knoxville
- For
- Buyers of homes developed by Home Source East Tennessee, Neighborhood Housing Inc., or East Tennessee Housing Development Corp.
- Income cap
- Household income below $55,650 (1) / $63,600 (2) / $71,550 (3) / $79,500 (4) / $85,900 (5) / $92,250 (6) / $98,600 (7) / $104,950 (8)
- Fine print
- Homebuyer education via Home Source East Tennessee, Knoxville Area Urban League or UT Extension
Page says applications are closed except for homes from the three listed nonprofit developers. Contact Kevin DuBose, (865) 215-2865.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
Knoxville nonprofit affordable-home builders with buyer assistance
City of Knoxville
- For
- Low- and moderate-income buyers of homes these nonprofits build/renovate
- Fine print
- Buy one of the nonprofit's homes; ETHDC also offers coaching and DPA/closing-cost help
City lists these as the path to an affordable home; no amounts posted.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
Help that covers the whole state
Buyers in Knoxville can also use 4 programs that reach every corner of Tennessee, Homeownership for Heroes among them. See the full Tennessee list or try the program matcher.
Your county page: Knox County
Homebuyer class options near Knox County
Plan on a homebuyer class; almost every assistance program makes you take one before the closing date. Here is who near Knox County is HUD-approved to teach it or sit down with you one on one:
| Agency | Office in | Miles away | Help offered | Spoken in | Ways to attend |
|---|
| Knoxville Area Urban League | Knoxville | 2 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
| Knox Housing Partnership, Incorporated Dba Homesource East Tennessee | Knoxville | 2 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc | Rutledge | 31 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
Pulled from HUD's housing counseling agency list. Programs don't all accept the same classes.
Which class does your program want? Ask a loan officer who does Tennessee programs. They'll name the class that counts and can get your pre-approval going at the same time.
See if I qualify
What people in Knoxville ask
Can I still apply for Knoxville down payment assistance?
Only if you are buying a home developed by Home Source East Tennessee, Neighborhood Housing Inc. or East Tennessee Housing Development Corp. The city says general applications are closed.
What are the income limits for Knoxville's program?
Household income must be below $55,650 for one person, $63,600 for two, $71,550 for three, $79,500 for four, up to $104,950 for eight.
What can Knoxville buyers use if the city program doesn't fit?
THDA's Great Choice and Homeownership for Heroes loans apply across Knox County, with income limits of $103,700 (1-2 people) and $119,255 (3+) and a $500,000 price cap.
