The DPA second (8%)
How the up-to-8% second mortgage works.
Idaho Down Payment Assistance: Up to 8% From IHFA
Idaho Housing gives buyers a second mortgage worth up to 8% of the price for the down payment and closing costs. It is repayable, not a grant, and it works. Here is how to use it, and how to know if it fits.
How Idaho down payment assistance works
Idaho’s program is simple and generous, and we will tell you exactly what it is. Through IHFA, you can get a second mortgage worth up to 8% of your home’s price (or appraised value, whichever is less) to cover the down payment and closing costs. Unlike some states, it is not a grant, you pay it back in small monthly payments over 15 years, alongside your first mortgage. That honesty matters: the real question is whether the combined payment fits your budget, which we run with you. You bring at least $500 of your own, complete Finally Home! education, and you are on your way.
The Idaho options at a glance
Grant or loan?
The honest answer, and why a repayable second still works.
No credit score?
IHFA lets no-score buyers qualify by manual underwriting.
DPA + USDA loan
Zero-down USDA plus the second for closing costs.
DPA + VA loan
Mountain Home AFB and Idaho veterans.
Eligibility & limits
$170k income cap, $500 minimum, Finally Home!.
Why work with us
A participating lender, not a referral site.
Cornerstone First Mortgage originates IHFA loans directly, we are an approved participating lender, not a lead broker that sells your information. And because Idaho’s help is a repayable second, honesty matters most here, Mike Certo will run your full combined payment and tell you straight whether it fits, before you apply. No obligation, no pressure.
Ready to see what you qualify for?
Tell us your county, price target, income, and whether you have a credit score, and we will map your Idaho options in a no-pressure call, including the full combined payment so there are no surprises. Start with the quiz above, or reach Mike at (480) 296-6513.
Local guides
Down payment assistance by county
Explore your metro and compare your options.
Boise / Ada County
Treasure Valley, 8% second covers most down payments.
Meridian & Nampa
Western valley, affordable, USDA-eligible edges.
Idaho Falls
Eastern Idaho, the 8% goes furthest on low prices.
Coeur d'Alene
North Idaho, help competing in a hot market.
Twin Falls
Magic Valley, strong USDA + IHFA combination.
Pocatello
Southeast Idaho, university town, no-score path.
Compare your options
The DPA second (8%)
How the up-to-8% repayable second works.
Grant or loan?
The honest answer, it's a repayable second.
No credit score?
IHFA qualifies no-score buyers by manual underwriting.
DPA + USDA loan
Zero-down USDA plus the second for closing costs.
DPA + VA loan
Mountain Home AFB and Idaho veterans.
Idaho DPA blog
Guides and updates as programs change.
FAQ
Common questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Idaho?
IHFA offers a second mortgage worth up to 8% of the sales price or appraised value (whichever is less) for down payment and closing costs. On many Idaho homes that covers the full down payment. It is repayable in small monthly payments over 15 years, with a $500 minimum own-funds contribution.
Is Idaho down payment assistance a grant?
No. IHFA's down payment assistance is a repayable second mortgage, not a grant and not forgivable. You pay it back in small monthly payments over 15 years, alongside your first mortgage. It still solves the down payment barrier, just as a loan rather than free money.
Can I get Idaho down payment assistance with no credit score?
Possibly. IHFA allows borrowers without a credit score to qualify through manual underwriting guidelines, using alternative records like rent and utilities. The same up-to-8% second mortgage applies. Confirm the current documentation requirements with IHFA.
Who qualifies for Idaho down payment assistance?
Buyers with income under IHFA's product limit (up to about $170,000 for some), at least $500 of their own funds, and Finally Home! homebuyer education. It pairs with an IHFA conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA first mortgage. Confirm your current figures with IHFA.
See your Idaho options
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Idaho path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.