What does the City of Memphis offer homebuyers right now?
Memphis has the deepest city-run lineup in Tennessee. Every track is handled by the Division of Housing & Community Development through approved DPA lenders, and every one is listed as funding-dependent, so confirm money is available before you write an offer. The general track, Citywide Down Payment Assistance, serves buyers at or below 80% of area median income anywhere inside city limits. The Citizens incentive raises the income ceiling to 200% of AMI, but only in 15 designated areas. A separate track serves Memphis Housing Authority residents, Housing Choice Voucher holders and HOPE VI buyers. The home must pay Memphis city taxes and fall under HUD HOME value limits, and the city's DPA note is signed after the first mortgage.
Three employee tracks drop the income limit entirely. Uniformed Memphis Police Department officers and front-line Memphis Fire Department firefighters qualify after one year of service. Full-time Memphis-Shelby County Schools employees qualify after two years, and that covers all staff, not only teachers. These are the strongest local hooks for public servants anywhere in the state, and they can be paired with THDA's Homeownership for Heroes rate cut at the state level.
Buyers outside the city line, in Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville or Millington, cannot use the city money. They can look at the county loan run by the Shelby County Department of Housing and the Rise Up grant for first-generation buyers, both covered on the Shelby County page. The city page does not spell out per-program forgiveness terms, so ask your lender, or call HCD at 901-636-7300, how the note is repaid. To see which tracks fit your job, income and address, run the program finder.
Programs in Memphis
City of Memphis
- For
- Low/moderate-income buyers purchasing anywhere in Memphis city limits
- How much
- Up to 10% of sales price, not to exceed $25,000 (cap applies across City DPA programs, subject to funding)
- Income cap
- 80% AMI
- Price cap
- Current HUD HOME value limits
- Fine print
- Property must be inside Memphis city limits and pay Memphis city taxes; apply through an approved DPA lender with the Income Asset Questionnaire; DPA promissory note and deed signed after first mortgage
City page says requirements 'may include' first-time buyer status; per-program amounts and forgiveness terms not posted. Contact 901-636-7300.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCity of Memphis (15 designated areas)
- For
- Buyers up to 200% AMI purchasing in one of 15 designated areas
- How much
- Up to 10% of sales price, max $25,000 (City DPA cap)
- Income cap
- 200% AMI
- Price cap
- Current HUD HOME value limits
- Fine print
- Must buy within one of the 15 designated areas inside city limits
Designated-area map is in a linked PDF not read this session.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCity of Memphis
- For
- Current/recently displaced MHA residents (MHA DPA), Housing Choice Voucher holders (SHAPE), buyers through MHA's HOPE VI program (TADPA)
- How much
- Up to 10% of sales price, max $25,000 (City DPA cap)
- Income cap
- 80% AMI
- Price cap
- Current HUD HOME value limits
- Fine print
- Memphis city limits
Niche audience; list briefly.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCity of Memphis
- For
- Uniformed City of Memphis police officers with at least 1 year of service
- How much
- Up to 10% of sales price, max $25,000 (City DPA cap)
No income limit; buy anywhere in Memphis city limits; HUD HOME value price limit; through approved DPA lender.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCity of Memphis
- For
- Front-line Memphis Fire Department firefighters with at least 1 year of service
- How much
- Up to 10% of sales price, max $25,000 (City DPA cap)
No income limit; Memphis city limits.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCity of Memphis
- For
- Full-time MSCS employees with at least 2 years of service (teachers and all staff)
- How much
- Up to 10% of sales price, max $25,000 (City DPA cap)
No income limit; home must be inside Memphis city limits. Strongest local teacher hook in TN found.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCounty programs Memphis buyers can use
Shelby County Down Payment Assistance Program
Funds limitedShelby County
- For
- Low- to moderate-income homebuyers
- How much
- Up to $3,500 per county program sheet (undated); a Local Memphis news report says the max rose to $6,000 at 3% for 15 years - not confirmed on an official page
- Kind of help
- Loan with monthly payments
County program sheet: 5% fixed, 10-year term. SCDH's PY2026 Action Plan (Jul 1 2026-Jun 30 2027) says it plans to continue a DPA program countywide, funded with state and local funds.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
Rise Up - Memphis and West Tennessee (United Housing)
Funds limitedMemphis and West Tennessee
- For
- First-time, first-generation homebuyers
- How much
- $25,000 grant (total pool up to $2 million)
- Kind of help
- Grant, never repaid
- First-timers only?
- Yes
- Fine print
- Must use an FHLB Cincinnati member lender
Announced Aug-Oct 2025 (news reports). Official FHLB page could not be rendered; county list and whether funds remain are unverified. Madison County inclusion assumed from 'West Tennessee' wording.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
Help that covers the whole state
Buyers in Memphis 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: Shelby County
Homebuyer class options near Shelby County
Plan on a homebuyer class; almost every assistance program makes you take one before the closing date. Here is who near Shelby 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 |
|---|
| Frayser Community Development Corporation | Memphis | 7 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
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 Memphis ask
Is there a down payment program for Memphis police and firefighters?
Yes. The Homebuyer Incentive Program has tracks for uniformed Memphis police officers and front-line Memphis Fire Department firefighters with at least one year of service. There is no income limit. Assistance is up to 10% of the sales price, max $25,000, and the home must be inside Memphis city limits.
Can Memphis-Shelby County Schools employees get help buying a home?
Full-time MSCS employees with at least two years of service, including teachers and all other staff, can use the MSCS track: up to 10% of the price, max $25,000, no income limit, for a home inside Memphis city limits. It is subject to city funding.
Can I combine two Memphis city programs?
The $25,000 maximum applies across all City of Memphis DPA programs, so stacking two city tracks does not raise the total. County and statewide programs are separate; a lender confirms what can sit together.
