SeatChattanooga
People390,833
Income cap, 3+$117,133
Price cap$500,000
Getting to know Hamilton County as a buyer
Hamilton County Schools is the public district countywide, covering Chattanooga, East Ridge, Soddy-Daisy, Red Bank and Collegedale.
Chattanooga Police, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Chattanooga Fire and Hamilton County EMS are all large employers of eligible workers. EMTs and paramedics are named in the program, so county EMS crews are covered.
Marion and Sequatchie counties share Hamilton's exact income limit, which helps if you're comparing homes across the line.
The caps in Hamilton County
| Cap for 1–2 people | Cap for 3 or more | Highest price allowed |
|---|
| $101,854 | $117,133 | $500,000 |
Hamilton County's limit is $101,854 for 1-2 people and $117,133 for 3+. Compare with every county's caps, or run your own budget.
More help that's specific to Hamilton County
Local programs like these can sometimes sit on top of the state program, or stand in for it. Each one has its own rules, so your loan officer will sort out which ones play nicely together.
City of Chattanooga
- For
- First-time buyers (no ownership in past 3 years; THDA first-time definitions also accepted) up to 120% AMI
- How much
- Up to $15,000; up to $21,000 total combined with THDA through a city-THDA partnership
- Kind of help
- Forgivable loan
- Income cap
- 120% AMI (FY2026: $81,800 1-person, $93,500 2, $105,200 3, $116,900 4, $126,250 5, $135,600 6)
- Price cap
- $400,000 (lesser of price or appraised value)
- First-timers only?
- Yes
- Fine print
- Inside Chattanooga city limits; approved homebuyer education within 12 months of closing; at least $1,000 of buyer's own funds; professional home inspection; approved lender
0% deferred second mortgage, no payments, forgiven at end of 30 years; repaid if sold or cash-out refinanced. Guidelines revised 05.08.2026. Explicitly stacks with THDA. Contact Megan Miles, (423) 643-7440.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The long versionCNE / RockPointBank Down Payment Assistance
Open nowHamilton County
- For
- Low- to moderate-income buyers of single-family primary residences in Hamilton County
- How much
- $10,000 to $50,000
- Kind of help
- Loan with monthly payments
- Income cap
- 80% AMI
- Fine print
- Min credit 660, max DTI 45%, buyer contributes at least $1,000, eHome America homebuyer education
Launched July 13, 2026. 30-year second mortgage at the first-mortgage rate, no prepayment penalty. Source is a news release; CNE contact cnelending.homes, 423-402-8978.
Checked against the source November 2026 · how we check
The full Tennessee program list
Homebuyer class options near Hamilton County
Plan on a homebuyer class; almost every assistance program makes you take one before the closing date. Here is who near Hamilton 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 |
|---|
| Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, Inc. | Chattanooga | 13 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
Who in Hamilton County can use it
A few of the local employers whose people qualify:
- Hamilton County Schools
- Chattanooga Police Department
- Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
- Chattanooga Fire Department
- Hamilton County EMS
Hamilton County EMS paramedics qualify under the EMT and paramedic rule with their license or certification. All the jobs that count
Questions folks ask about Hamilton County
What's the Chattanooga income limit?
$101,854 for 1-2 and $117,133 for 3 or more.
Do Hamilton County EMS staff qualify?
Yes, EMTs and paramedics currently employed in Tennessee qualify.
Is there help for a new build in Collegedale?
Heroes Plus offers up to $25,000 on newly built homes, repaid at 0% over 15 years.
Nearby and elsewhere: Shelby County · Davidson County · Knox County · Rutherford County · Williamson County · Montgomery County · Sumner County · Wilson County · Every county
