Down payment assistance in Oklahoma: every program (2026)
Oklahoma buyers can draw on a statewide agency loan, a statewide nonprofit gift program, several city and county HOME-funded programs, a Tulsa teacher fund and tribal housing programs. Here is each one, with who it serves and how much it pays.
Most help in Oklahoma comes in one of two shapes. Statewide programs (OHFA and REI Oklahoma) bundle the assistance with their own first mortgage, so you pick one of them rather than stacking them. City and county programs (Oklahoma City, Norman, Lawton, the Oklahoma/Canadian counties HOME program) are second liens that sit behind a mortgage you get separately, and nearly all are first-come, first-served with limited yearly funds. OHFA's HOME homebuyer funding was suspended in March 2026 and reinstated by its trustees on May 14, 2026; buyers reach those funds only through local grantees, not by applying to OHFA.
Each card below lists who the program serves, how much it pays, whether it is a grant or a loan, and its income and price caps where the official page states them. A "Funding varies" badge means money is limited or released in rounds. Tulsa County's First Home program now mentions a waitlist for fallout, so its funds may be fully reserved, and no City of Tulsa down payment page could be found. Click a program name for a full guide, or start with the eligibility check and your county page.
Free printable: the Oklahoma homebuyer checklist. Papers, steps, programs and the questions to ask, all on one sheet. Download it
Don't know where to begin? The program matcher trims this list down to what fits your county, your job and your situation. We checked each program here against its official source, and here's how.
OHFA Special Rates: OHFA 4 Schools (formerly OHFA 4Teachers) and OHFA Shield
OHFA 4 Schools (formerly OHFA 4Teachers) and OHFA Shield are special rates on the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency's Gold loan. You get 0.125% off the posted Gold rate, plus 3.5% of the loan amount as a 0% interest second mortgage with no monthly payment. That second mortgage is not a grant and is not forgiven: you repay it when you sell, refinance, transfer the home, stop living in it, or the first mortgage ends. The details · Do I qualify?
REI Oklahoma (Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc., 501(c)(3) nonprofit); U.S. Bank master servicer
For
Buyers statewide using an FHA, VA, USDA-RD or HUD 184 30-year fixed first mortgage through a U.S. Bank-approved REI lender
How much
Gift Option 1A: 3.0%, 3.5% or 4.0% of the first loan; Option 1B: 3.5%, 4.0% or 5.0%; Option 2 Hybrid (FHA and HUD 184 only): 2.5% gift + 2.5% second mortgage at 5% amortizing over 10 years (5% total)
Kind
Grant, nothing to pay back
Income cap
2026-2027 Exhibit A (gift): $130,650 (1-2 person) / $152,425 (3+) in most counties; Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Logan, McClain counties $145,950 / $170,275; Tulsa, Creek, Rogers, Wagoner, Osage $142,500 / $166,250; Grady $144,000 / $168,000; Payne $148,200 / $172,900. Hybrid (Exhibit B) limits are lower, e.g. Tulsa $109,250 / $127,458 / $148,701 (1-2 / 3-4 / 5-6 persons)
Pairs with state program?
no - REI is its own first-mortgage + DPA program (U.S. Bank), so it is an alternative to OHFA Gold/4 Schools/Shield, not a layer on top
Program summary dated June 8, 2026. Min FICO 640 (FHA/VA/USDA automated, 1-2 units), 680 for DTI 45.01-50%, 660 manufactured homes and HUD 184 manual. Homebuyer education recommended, not required. Gift may cover up to 100% of cash to close. Not limited to teachers/first responders. REI housing team: reidpa@reiok.org, 1-800-658-2823.
REI Oklahoma (Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.)
For
Buyers statewide using a conventional 97% LTV HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage first mortgage through a U.S. Bank-approved REI lender; primary residence only
How much
Forgivable second Option 1A: 3.0%; Option 1B: 0%, 3.5%, 4.0% or 5.0% of the first loan; Option 2: 5.0% amortizing second at 5.0% over 10 years
Kind
Loan that is forgiven over time
Price cap
Conforming loan limits apply
Pairs with state program?
no - separate first-mortgage program; alternative to OHFA Gold
Summary dated June 16, 2026. Forgivable second is 0% interest, forgiven 1/84 per month over 7 years; due on sale, refinance, or move-out over 60 days. CLTV max 105%. $175 servicing fee on the amortizing second.
OHFA HOME Program Homebuyer Assistance (through local nonprofits/CHDOs/tribes)
Limited money
Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (state HOME participating jurisdiction)
For
Low-income homebuyers served by an OHFA HOME grantee in areas outside Oklahoma City, Lawton, Norman, Tulsa and the Tulsa County HOME Consortium
How much
Set by each grantee; OHFA requires HOME homebuyer funds be loaned at 0% interest with recapture
Kind
Loan paid back later, no monthly bill
Income cap
HOME low-income (80% AMI) limits
Price cap
HOME homeownership value limits
Pairs with state program?
unknown - depends on grantee; HOME DPA is often layered with an OHFA first mortgage but not confirmed
Trustees lifted a March 2026 suspension on May 14, 2026 after HB 1823 failed. Draft 2027 Action Plan sets 15% of the annual HOME allocation for down-payment assistance. Example grant: NHS Oklahoma for 10 homebuyers in Cleveland, Logan and Pottawatomie counties (see local). Buyers cannot apply to OHFA directly; they go through a grantee.
Osage Nation Down Payment Assistance (NAHASDA), plus DPASS and tribally funded DPA
Limited money
Osage Nation Housing Department
For
All Native Americans (enrolled in a federally recognized tribe) living in Oklahoma, with Osage preference; must not have owned a home in the last 2 years (exceptions case by case); head of household 18+
How much
$5,500 per selected applicant toward down payment, closing costs or other purchase expenses
Kind
Grant, nothing to pay back
Income cap
NAHASDA program: at or below 80% of U.S. median income; DPASS: 80%-100% of U.S. median; tribally funded program: over 100%, Osage citizens in Oklahoma only
Only for first-timers?
Yes
Pairs with state program?
unknown - grant with only a 6-month unrecorded resale restriction; likely layerable but not confirmed
Policy PDF is dated 2020 (https://cdn.osagenation-nsn.gov/gov-site/files/departments/Housing/2020_1001_DPA_P%26P-2020.pdf); funds go until exhausted and the waiting list is cleared each fiscal year. Must obtain a traditional mortgage; refers clients to Section 184 lenders. Contact 918-287-5310.
Chickasaw Nation Down Payment and/or Closing Cost Assistance Grant
Taking applications
Chickasaw Nation Housing Counseling and Loan Services
For
Chickasaw citizens (Chickasaw Nation residents and Chickasaws at-large) who are on and approved for a home loan; primary residence; purchase or rate/term refinance
How much
Up to $5,000 one-time (page metadata says $3,000; confirm)
Kind
Grant, nothing to pay back
Pairs with state program?
unknown - grant paid before closing; not stated
Page shows 'Application Available' with online form; documents due at least 3 weeks before closing; not paid after closing. Chickasaw citizens only. Phone (580) 421-8800.
Choctaw Nation Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance (second mortgage) and Choctaw Homebuyer Advantage Program (CHAP)
Limited money
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma / Choctaw Home Finance (Hugo, OK)
For
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma tribal members; Oklahoma is a fully approved lending state
Kind
Loan with a monthly payment
Income cap
CHAP: no maximum income limit; DPA second: not stated
Pairs with state program?
partly - the DPA second mortgage is allowed only if the member's first-mortgage program and lender permit it
DPA is a second mortgage with term up to 5 years, credit guidelines apply, first-come first-served subject to funds. CHAP (https://choctawnation.com/services/chap) is a tribal mortgage loan up to 30 years with no income cap. Choctaw Home Finance 580-317-9610. Dollar amounts not published.
95% of HUD median sales price for Oklahoma City; CAA lists $190,000 existing / $251,000 new construction
Only for first-timers?
No
Also note
HUD-certified homebuyer education; buyer pays at least 1% of price; liquid assets over $15,000 go to purchase; fixed-rate escrowed first mortgage, no subprime; front ratio under 34%, back 43%; 2 months PITI reserves; no FEMA 100-year flood zone; 10-year affordability period (prorated 1/120 per month) via deferred note and mortgage
Guidelines: https://www.okc.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning/documents/2025-dpa-program-guidelines.pdf. OKC also sells new CHDO-built homes (Jefferson Park Neighbors, Positively Paseo, NHS) at the Village on Walnut and Capitol Hill. OKC spans parts of Canadian, Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties but eligibility is set by the boundary map.
Same parameters as the OKC/NHS program; live in the home 5 years for full forgiveness; minimum property standards; no 100-year flood zone; buyer gets own mortgage from any lender
Norman FY2026-27 Action Plan says the City still offers it using prior-year HOME funds. Original Aug 2024 contract K-2425-20 funded $80,000 for 8 households, so funds are small. No dedicated city web page found.
Tulsa County (includes Tulsa, Broken Arrow (Tulsa County part), Owasso, Bixby, Jenks)
For
First-time buyers (including all spouses) using FHA, VA or USDA-RD loans through participating lenders
How much
3.5% of the total note
Kind
Loan that is forgiven over time
Only for first-timers?
Yes
Also note
Min FICO 620; homebuyer education required; no non-occupant co-borrowers; 60 days from reservation to loan purchase
0% interest second forgiven after 5 years. 2025A offering at 6.350% for FHA/VA/USDA; page (modified Aug 24, 2026) says a waitlist is available for fallout, suggesting funds may be fully reserved. Income/price limits are in a linked PDF not read this session. Alternative to OHFA Gold, not a layer.
Housing Partners of Tulsa Homebuyer Program (down payment/closing cost assistance)
City of Tulsa / Tulsa area
For
Low- and moderate-income families; any lender, realtor and neighborhood
Also note
Homebuyer counseling and classes; staff attends closing and supports 5 years after purchase; DPA 'restrictions apply'
City of Tulsa reported 31 households became first-time homeowners with CDBG/HOME in PY2024 (cityoftulsa.org press release, Community Development Week 2026) but no City of Tulsa DPA program page was found. Contact Alicia Linker 918-581-5711.
Households at or below 80% of area median income buying inside Lawton city limits
How much
Up to $14,999.99 based on need
Kind
Loan paid back later, no monthly bill
Income cap
80% AMI (page links a 2021 income chart)
Price cap
No stated cap; PITI plus utilities limited to 30% of gross income
Only for first-timers?
Yes
Also note
No home owned in last 3 years (exceptions); homeowner education class; $25 fee (money order/bank check), hand-delivered application; 45 days to find a home after eligibility notice; City inspection; no floodplain or airport clear zone
Half is a repayable loan with small monthly payments and half is forgivable if owner-occupied. First-come first-served.
Head of household or partner is a citizen of any federally recognized tribe (Cherokee preference); home inside Cherokee Nation reservation boundaries
How much
Up to $20,000 down payment assistance plus credit coaching
Income cap
80% of national median income (NAHASDA, eff. June 11, 2026): $85,450 family of 4; $59,850 1-person; $112,800 8-person
Price cap
None stated; home at least 540 sq ft on under 5 acres
Only for first-timers?
Yes
Also note
No ownership in prior 3 years (DV/uninhabitable-home exceptions); no prior HACN/Cherokee Nation homeownership assistance; HACN homebuyer education and self-sufficiency counseling; HACN must approve lender, rate and terms
Application dated 6/26: https://www.hacn.org/media/wqjdgusp/map-app-6-26.pdf. County slugs are approximate: Tulsa, Wagoner and Muskogee are only partly inside the reservation (county mapping not verified on an official page this session).
Citizen Potawatomi Nation One-Time Grant (and Home Purchase Mortgage Buy-Down)
CPN jurisdiction (Shawnee/Tecumseh area)
For
CPN tribal members (grant); buy-down: low-income Native American households in CPN jurisdiction with CPN preference
How much
2019 article: grant up to $20,000 for homes over $60,000 or up to 25% of price under $60,000
Kind
Grant, nothing to pay back
Income cap
Buy-down: HUD low-income limits; grant: not stated
Also note
Buy-down excludes mobile/manufactured homes and refinances
Grant program running 24+ years per a July 2023 CPN post, but current amount and status were not confirmed; buy-down terms come from a Sept 2019 article. CPN Housing 405-275-3121 / 405-273-2833.
Tulsa: Tulsa Public Schools, Union Public Schools, Tulsa Legacy Charter, KIPP Tulsa, Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences, College Bound Academy, Tulsa Honor Academy, Under the Canopy, Crossover Preparatory Academy
For
Traditionally certified, emergency-certified and noncertified classroom teachers at the listed schools who qualify for Green Country Habitat for Humanity's homebuyer program (income limits, homebuyer education, sweat-equity hours)
How much
Up to $50,000 forgivable down payment assistance plus a below-market 30-year fixed Habitat mortgage and closing cost help
Kind
Loan that is forgiven over time
Launched Jan 2025 with a $5M fund for 100+ educators; forgiven after 5 years of mortgage payments. Expanded beyond TPS in Sept 2026 with a Zarrow Family Foundation gift (Tulsa Flyer, Sept 9, 2026). Program sites: greencountryhabitat.org/education and EducationBeginsWithHome.org (not fetched). Habitat purchase, so it replaces rather than layers with OHFA 4 Schools.
HUD Good Neighbor Next Door: teachers, police officers, firefighters and EMTs can buy certain HUD-listed homes in revitalization areas for half the list price, as long as they live there three years. HUD Good Neighbor Next Door (50% off list price for eligible law enforcement, teachers PreK-12, firefighters and EMTs in HUD revitalization areas, 36-month occupancy) applies in Oklahoma, but current Oklahoma listings could not be checked this session; buyers should search HUD Homestore for OK.
FHA loan limits by county: an FHA loan takes 3.5% down with a credit score of 580.
Can you combine programs?
Some combinations are ruled out by the program rules. OHFA Gold (the loan behind 4 Schools and Shield), REI Home100 and the Tulsa County First Home program each come with their own first mortgage, so they are alternatives to each other, not layers. OHFA also allows only one OHFA loan at a time. On an OHFA Gold Government loan (FHA, VA, USDA or HUD 184), any extra second lien such as a city DPA needs OHFA's approval; on the Freddie Mac conventional version, extra second liens are not allowed.
City and county programs such as Oklahoma City's DPA, the Oklahoma/Canadian counties HOME program, Norman's neighborhood program and Lawton's program are second liens behind a mortgage you choose, so pairing one with a statewide first mortgage depends on both sets of rules. A participating lender confirms whether a given pair can close together. The Education Begins With Home teacher program uses a Habitat for Humanity mortgage, so it replaces rather than layers on OHFA 4 Schools.
Questions
Is there down payment assistance in Oklahoma City?
Yes. The City of Oklahoma City offers up to $18,000 for down payment and closing costs, plus up to $5,000 for a rate buydown, inside its approved boundary for buyers at or under 80% of area median income. The Community Action Agency also runs a HOME program for Oklahoma and Canadian counties paying up to $14,249. See the OKC program guide.
Is there a down payment program in Tulsa?
Tulsa County's Home Finance Authority First Home program pays 3.5% of the loan as a forgivable second for first-time buyers using FHA, VA or USDA loans, though its page mentions a waitlist for fallout. Classroom teachers at listed Tulsa schools may qualify for up to $50,000 through Education Begins With Home. Statewide, OHFA and REI Home100 also lend in Tulsa.
Is OHFA's 3.5% assistance a grant?
No. OHFA's 3.5% is a 0% interest second mortgage with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance, transfer the home, stop living in it, or the first mortgage ends. REI Home100 offers a gift option on government loans and a forgivable second on conventional loans.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
It depends on the program. OHFA Gold special rates require no primary-home ownership in the past 3 years unless you buy in a targeted area; OHFA Dream serves repeat buyers. Tulsa County First Home and Lawton require first-time status, while Oklahoma City, Norman and the Oklahoma/Canadian counties programs do not.
Are there programs for Native American homebuyers?
Several tribes run their own. The Cherokee Nation MAP serves households where the head of household or partner is a citizen of any federally recognized tribe, with Cherokee preference, buying inside the reservation. Osage Nation, Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Nation programs have their own membership rules shown on their cards. HUD Section 184 loans can also be used with OHFA and REI Home100.
Can I use OHFA and REI Home100 together?
No. Each is its own first mortgage with built-in assistance, so you choose one. A lender who offers both can compare the rate, the assistance amount and the repayment terms for your situation.
We summarized these from official program pages as of November 2026. Money and rules shift, so confirm with the program itself or a lender who takes part.
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