Send the County, the Household, and Whether You Served
Program and regulatory figures verified October 6, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
The fastest route to a real answer is your county, how many are in the household, roughly what you earn, and whether anyone on the application has served.
What should I send?
County, household size, approximate income, and whether you have owned a home in the last three years. The address if you have one in mind.
★ And the question we ask that most lenders do not: have you or your spouse served? ADFA exempts veterans and spouses of veterans from the first-time buyer requirement anywhere in Arkansas, and it is the single most valuable thing you can tell us on a first call. Why.
What comes back?
Which ADFA programme fits, what assistance your file supports between $1,000 and $15,000, and both payments shown together — the first mortgage and the assistance second.
That second number is the one most Arkansas buyers are never shown until closing, and it is the one that decides whether this is the right tool for you. If your savings already cover the gap, we will say so rather than add a ten-year payment you do not need.
Our team reviews every Arkansas scenario and reaches out shortly. If something is time sensitive, calling (480) 296-6513 is faster than the form.
Do you lend across all of Arkansas?
Yes, all 75 counties. What changes by location is the StartSmart income limit and whether your county is one of the thirty targeted ones — which waives the first-time rule entirely. The county table.
Much of Arkansas sits outside the metro areas, so Rural Development financing is available in more of the state than buyers expect. An RD first with ADFA assistance on top is a strong structure where it fits, and worth asking about.
One thing to check before you make an offer
The property rules. 5 acres maximum, business use under 15%, and specific duplex conditions. These are measurable up front and they have ended otherwise-good Arkansas files at the appraisal stage. The rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for down payment assistance in Arkansas?
Through a lender that originates ADFA loans. Send your county, household size, approximate income, whether you have owned in the last three years, and whether you or your spouse have served, and we can tell you which programme fits before you start looking seriously.Do you lend across all of Arkansas?
Yes, all 75 counties. What varies by location is the StartSmart income limit and whether your county is one of the thirty federally targeted ones, which waives the first-time buyer requirement.How quickly will someone respond?
Our team reviews every Arkansas scenario and reaches out shortly, usually with which ADFA programme fits and both payments shown together. If something is time sensitive, calling (480) 296-6513 is faster than the form.Will you show me what the assistance costs monthly?
Yes, both payments together: the first mortgage and the assistance second. Because Arkansas assistance amortises over ten years at the first mortgage's rate, the second payment is the number that decides whether it is the right tool, and it is the one buyers are most often not shown until closing.Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not tax or legal guidance. ADFA program terms, income limits and purchase price limits are set by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and change; figures here carry the date we verified them against ADFA's published documents. ADFA down payment assistance is a second mortgage matching the first mortgage over a 10-year term, which means it carries a monthly payment; it is not a grant. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.