Where the Targeted County Line Runs Through a Metro
Program and regulatory figures verified October 6, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
This is the sharpest example in Arkansas of a county designation changing the answer, and it runs straight through a metropolitan area.
★★ The Arkansas River is a programme boundary
Fort Smith sits in Sebastian County. Van Buren, directly across the river, sits in Crawford County.
| County | Status | 1–2 members | 3 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian (Fort Smith) | Non-targeted | $92,160 | $107,520 |
| Crawford (Van Buren) | Targeted | $99,960 | $116,620 |
Crossing the river does two things at once: the income limit rises by $7,800 for a one-or-two-person household, and the StartSmart first-time buyer requirement disappears entirely.
For a repeat buyer in this metro, that is not a marginal difference. It is the difference between having access to bond-rate financing and not. The 30 targeted counties.
What we are and are not saying
We are not suggesting anyone buy in the wrong town for a programme. People live where their work and family are.
What we are saying is that if you are already looking at both sides of the river — which plenty of Fort Smith buyers are — this belongs in the comparison alongside schools, commute and price. It is a real financial difference and almost nobody puts it in front of you.
Jonesboro and the northeast
Jonesboro is in Craighead County: $90,720 for one to two members, $105,840 for three or more, and non-targeted.
★ But northeast Arkansas is dense with targeted counties. Mississippi, Cross, Crittenden, Lee and Monroe are all on ADFA's targeted list, so a large share of the region waives the first-time rule. A buyer willing to look slightly outside Jonesboro has options a Jonesboro-only search will not surface.
If you are staying put
Being in a non-targeted county is not a dead end for a repeat buyer:
- Veterans and spouses are exempt statewide.
- Move-Up has no first-time rule and a $142,000 cap.
The assistance — $1,000 to $15,000 as a 10-year second matching the first — pairs with both. All 75 counties.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fort Smith in an ADFA targeted county?
No. Fort Smith is in Sebastian County, which is non-targeted. Crawford County directly across the Arkansas River, covering Van Buren, is one of ADFA's thirty targeted counties, so the first-time buyer requirement does not apply there and the income limit is higher.What are the ADFA income limits in Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is in Craighead County: $90,720 for a household of one or two members and $105,840 for three or more, effective 06/01/2026. Craighead is non-targeted, though several nearby northeast Arkansas counties are.How much higher is the Crawford County limit than Sebastian?
$7,800 for a household of one or two members, $99,960 against $92,160. Crawford is also targeted, so it waives the StartSmart first-time buyer requirement, which Sebastian does not.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.