How can Nashville buyers lower the cost of a first home?
Metro Nashville does not post its own down payment grant. The local tools come from The Housing Fund, the nonprofit created with the Metropolitan Housing Trust Fund Commission. Its Community Land Trust is open now. The trust keeps the land and leases it to you, so you buy only the house at a reduced price. It serves first-time, mortgage-ready buyers at or below 80% of Nashville-Davidson area median income. You need pre-approval from one of the fund's lending partners, homebuyer education and financial counseling, and a $600 processing fee at closing. Resale is restricted to keep the home affordable for the next buyer. Applicants are served from a prequalified list, first come, first served.
The Shared Equity Program reaches higher, up to 120% of AMI, but its terms have not been confirmed, so ask the fund directly before planning around it. The same nonprofit also offers a repayable down payment loan of $5,000 to $35,000. That loan is statewide rather than a Nashville-only benefit.
Davidson County sits in THDA's top income tier, $139,320 for one or two people and $162,540 for three or more. That leaves room for many Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers, Metro Nashville police officers and Nashville Fire Department crews to qualify for the Homeownership for Heroes rate cut. The $500,000 price cap is tighter than many Nashville listings, though, so the land trust's lower purchase price can be what makes the numbers work. The Davidson County guide covers the state limits in detail, and a free eligibility check lines up the options for your household.
Programs in Nashville
Nashville-Davidson County
- For
- First-time, mortgage-ready buyers at or below 80% of Nashville AMI
- How much
- Reduced price - land held in trust and leased; buyer owns the house
- Income cap
- 80% of Nashville-Davidson AMI
- First-timers only?
- Yes
- Fine print
- Pre-approval from a THF lending partner; homebuyer education and financial counseling; primary residence; $600 processing fee at closing; resale restrictions
Running prequalified list served first-come, first-served.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionThe Housing Fund Shared Equity Program
Nashville area
- For
- Buyers up to 120% AMI
- Income cap
- 120% AMI
Mentioned on THF's DPA page; terms not read this session.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
Help that covers the whole state
Buyers in Nashville 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: Davidson County
Homebuyer class options near Davidson County
Plan on a homebuyer class; almost every assistance program makes you take one before the closing date. Here is who near Davidson 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 |
|---|
| Aaa Residential Resources, Inc. | Nashville | 2 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
| Woodbine Community Organization | Nashville | 4 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| You Can Make It Home Ownership Center, Inc. | Smyrna | 19 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 Nashville ask
How does The Housing Fund land trust work in Nashville?
The Housing Fund holds the land in trust and leases it to you, so you buy only the house at a reduced price. It is for first-time, mortgage-ready buyers at or below 80% of Nashville-Davidson AMI, with homebuyer education, counseling and resale restrictions.
Does Nashville have a down payment program for teachers or police?
No Nashville-only employee program was found. Teachers, police, firefighters and EMTs can use THDA's Homeownership for Heroes statewide, which cuts the Great Choice rate by 0.5% and offers down payment help.
What is the income limit for THDA loans in Nashville?
Davidson County is in THDA's highest tier: $139,320 for a one- or two-person household and $162,540 for three or more. The price limit is $500,000.
