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Delaware program

Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program

Delaware route through City of Wilmington Real Estate and Housing Department. Use this page to confirm the core public facts first, then decide whether you need deeper comparison output and lender-call prep.

Mixed down payment and closing cost package Check official rules 2026-04-19
Agency City of Wilmington Real Estate and Housing Department
Support type Mixed down payment and closing cost package
Amount highlight Mixed assistance structure. Current city materials say the minimum award is $1,000. CDBG-eligible buyers up to 80% MFI can receive up to $40,000, while higher-income buyers from 80% to 100% MFI can receive up to $15,000. The city also says closing-cost and down-payment assistance are capped at the lesser of $15,000 or 6% of the purchase price, with at least part of each offer reserved for down payment.
Last verified 2026-04-19

Decision-ready public facts

What this program appears to offer

Quick answer from published facts. Go to Delaware program hub

Amount

Mixed assistance structure. Current city materials say the minimum award is $1,000. CDBG-eligible buyers up to 80% MFI can receive up to $40,000, while higher-income buyers from 80% to 100% MFI can receive up to $15,000. The city also says closing-cost and down-payment assistance are capped at the lesser of $15,000 or 6% of the purchase price, with at least part of each offer reserved for down payment.

Type

Mixed down payment and closing cost package

Repayment

Current city materials describe two assistance tracks inside First Start. Down-payment funds are a zero-interest conditional loan forgiven at 10% per year over 10 years while the home remains the buyer's principal residence and taxes, water, and sewer charges stay current. Closing-cost assistance is treated as a grant. The conditional loan becomes due in full if the home is sold or transferred or if the owner becomes delinquent on mortgage, tax, water, or sewer obligations during the 10-year period.

First-time buyer

Required

Program guide

What to know before you click through

Use the public facts first. Open the official source when a detail affects eligibility, repayment, or lender choice.

Who qualifies?

First-time homebuyers or buyers who have not owned a principal residence during the last three years, Single parents or displaced homemakers who meet the city's first-time-buyer definition exception, Low-income and moderate-income households up to 100% of median family income, Buyers purchasing a primary residence within the City of Wilmington

What support do you get?

Mixed assistance structure. Current city materials say the minimum award is $1,000. CDBG-eligible buyers up to 80% MFI can receive up to $40,000, while higher-income buyers from 80% to 100% MFI can receive up to $15,000. The city also says closing-cost and down-payment assistance are capped at the lesser of $15,000 or 6% of the purchase price, with at least part of each offer reserved for down payment.

Do you repay it?

Current city materials describe two assistance tracks inside First Start. Down-payment funds are a zero-interest conditional loan forgiven at 10% per year over 10 years while the home remains the buyer's principal residence and taxes, water, and sewer charges stay current. Closing-cost assistance is treated as a grant. The conditional loan becomes due in full if the home is sold or transferred or if the owner becomes delinquent on mortgage, tax, water, or sewer obligations during the 10-year period.

How do you apply?

Have a lender, real estate agent, or housing counselor obtain Neighborly access from the city, submit the full First Start application through Neighborly, complete at least eight hours of HUD-certified homebuyer counseling, secure a fixed-rate first mortgage, and finalize the city package before closing.

Official source evidence

The official Wilmington First Start page says the city is accepting applications through Neighborly, with lender or housing-counselor submission. The June 2025 manual says eligible first-time buyers purchasing in Wilmington can receive mixed down-payment and closing-cost assistance, with zero-interest down-payment assistance forgiven at 10% per year over 10 years.

View official source

Last verified

2026-04-19

Effective date not captured.

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Comparison preview

Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program

Amount: Mixed assistance structure. Current city materials say the minimum award is $1,000. CDBG-eligible buyers up to 80% MFI can receive up to $40,000, while higher-income buyers from 80% to 100% MFI can receive up to $15,000. The city also says closing-cost and down-payment assistance are capped at the lesser of $15,000 or 6% of the purchase price, with at least part of each offer reserved for down payment.

Repayment: Current city materials describe two assistance tracks inside First Start. Down-payment funds are a zero-interest conditional loan forgiven at 10% per year over 10 years while the home remains the buyer's principal residence and taxes, water, and sewer charges stay current. Closing-cost assistance is treated as a grant. The conditional loan becomes due in full if the home is sold or transferred or if the owner becomes delinquent on mortgage, tax, water, or sewer obligations during the 10-year period.

First-time buyer: Required

Risk checks preview

What gets flagged before you call a lender

  • Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program can trigger repayment on sale or refinance.
  • Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program can trigger repayment if owner occupancy changes.

Lender questions preview

Questions tied to this exact path

  • Which events trigger repayment for Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program: sale, transfer, non_owner_occupancy?
  • How does Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program define a first-time buyer for this household?

Action checklist preview

What you would do next

  • Confirm the first-time buyer definition before you apply.
  • Review the official Program page for Wilmington First Start Homebuyer Program.
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