09/14/2026
Down payment assistance can make homeownership more accessible, but it's important to understand exactly what it does—and doesn't—cover.
I recently worked with a buyer who assumed a $15,000 assistance program would take care of every upfront cost. When she found out she'd still need to bring money to closing, it was incredibly stressful.
The lesson isn't that these programs aren't helpful.
It's that the best decisions come from knowing the full picture before you're at the closing table.