Down payment assistance is the one corner of mortgage lending where everything depends on your zip code. Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA follow the same guidelines nationwide, loan limits aside. Assistance programs vary by state, by county, and sometimes by city, so general rules only go so far. What to know going in: - Find a local specialist. These programs work when someone knows your specific market's offerings, funding cycles, and quirks. That local knowledge is the whole game. - Grants are a separate animal. Some areas offer grant money, distinct from repayable assistance, that can be worth a meaningful amount in higher-cost metros. Confirm current amounts and eligibility locally. - Read the fine print on housing-finance-agency seconds. Many carry an above-market interest rate that effectively funds the assistance, sit as a lien on your home, and typically won't subordinate, because the agency wants its money back. If values don't rise enough to support a refinance appraisal later, you can be stuck paying that above-market rate longer than you expected. Weigh the help against those trade-offs, and confirm the current terms of any specific program before you rely on it.