Home buyer grants for teachers
Teachers can get the usual first-time buyer help in every state, plus a few programs only for educators and HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door, which takes half off the price of some HUD homes.
- Teacher programs run by states
- 5 across 5 states
- Biggest available amount
- $35,000, Florida
- HUD Good Neighbor Next Door
- The list price, reduced by 50%
Programs states offer for teachers
| Program | State | Amount | Grant or loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Hometown Heroes Housing (HTH) Program. Florida Housing Finance Corporation | Florida | As much as 5% of the home loan, with $35,000 the maximum. | Deferred loan |
| Georgia Dream Loan Program - Protectors, Educators & Nurses (PEN). Open only to educators, healthcare providers, public protectors, workers in these industries and active military. | Georgia | As much as 6% of the price, but never more than $12,500. | Repayable loan |
| Delaware Diamonds Home Loan. Open only to essential workers in the education and medical fields, veterans and first responders. | Delaware | Up to $10,000 | Forgivable loan |
| Mississippi Housing Assistance for Teachers (HAT). Open only to teachers who work in a school district with a critical shortage and purchase their home in that county. | Mississippi | Up to $6,000 | Forgivable loan |
| Homes for Texas Heroes Home Loan Program. Open only to teachers and educators, police officers, EMS personnel, firefighters, corrections officers, county jailers and military veterans. | Texas | Up to 5% of the home loan | Grant or forgivable loan |
The income limit, credit score and application steps appear on each program's own page. Teachers in the remaining states still have the standard first-time buyer options open to everyone: choose your state, or see every state to compare them.
Teachers get 50% off a HUD home with Good Neighbor Next Door
Who qualifies: teachers employed full-time by a public or private school that is state-accredited and serves pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school must be in the area where the home is.
- With HUD, the home's list price drops by 50%.
- Eligibility is limited to HUD-owned single family homes within HUD's revitalization areas; the program keeps each one on offer for seven days. Each week the list changes, and only a small number of homes are available.
- For 36 months you must own it and make it your only home, confirming each year that you still live there.
- The discount means you sign a second mortgage. There's no interest and no payments on it, and HUD releases it after three years if you followed the rules.
- If two or more buyers send offers on the same home, HUD chooses the buyer through a random lottery.
- The application begins by checking the HUD homes shown for your state and completing the steps to register interest in a chosen home.
Source: HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door page, along with its revitalization areas page. You'll find the homes listed on the HUD Home Store.
Speak to a lender that works with teacher programs
Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with your state's programs can tell you which ones fit you, including any for teachers.
Prefer not to call? Share your details and the lender will contact you.