09/02/2026
Down payment assistance programs aren’t always the deal they appear to be.
Many come with a 3 to 5 year restriction that limits your ability to refinance. If rates drop during that window, you may have to repay the assistance in full before making a move, which removes flexibility when the market shifts.
That can leave buyers locked into a payment structure that no longer reflects current conditions while others refinance into lower monthly costs.
A short delay to prepare financially can often create far more long-term control than rushing into a constrained loan.