Tennessee program
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Homeownership for Heroes is a reduced-rate Great Choice first-mortgage program for eligible hero borrowers. If a borrower also chooses Great Choice Plus, THDA offers an optional second-loan down payment assistance add-on with either $6,000 as a deferred forgivable second mortgage at 0% interest or up to 5% of the sales price, capped at $15,000, as a 30-year amortizing second mortgage at the same interest rate as the first mortgage.
Multiple assistance options
The Homeownership for Heroes first mortgage is repaid under standard Great Choice loan terms. If Great Choice Plus is added, the deferred option has no monthly payments, carries 0% interest, is forgiven at the end of the 30-year term, and becomes due in full if the home is sold or refinanced before then. The amortizing option is repaid with monthly payments over 30 years at the same interest rate as the first mortgage.
Unknown
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Active-duty military members, National Guard members, Veterans, Law enforcement officers, Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, Firefighters
Homeownership for Heroes is a reduced-rate Great Choice first-mortgage program for eligible hero borrowers. If a borrower also chooses Great Choice Plus, THDA offers an optional second-loan down payment assistance add-on with either $6,000 as a deferred forgivable second mortgage at 0% interest or up to 5% of the sales price, capped at $15,000, as a 30-year amortizing second mortgage at the same interest rate as the first mortgage.
The Homeownership for Heroes first mortgage is repaid under standard Great Choice loan terms. If Great Choice Plus is added, the deferred option has no monthly payments, carries 0% interest, is forgiven at the end of the 30-year term, and becomes due in full if the home is sold or refinanced before then. The amortizing option is repaid with monthly payments over 30 years at the same interest rate as the first mortgage.
Official options
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Reduced-rate first mortgage
Support type: State-backed first mortgage
Amount or structure: Reduced-rate Great Choice first mortgage for eligible hero borrowers.
Repayment: Check official rules
Who it fits: Active-duty military members, National Guard members, Veterans, Law enforcement officers, Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, Firefighters
Great Choice Plus deferred forgivable second
Support type: Forgivable second mortgage
Amount or structure: $6,000 deferred forgivable second mortgage at 0% interest.
Repayment: Forgivable if occupancy holds
Who it fits: Active-duty military members, National Guard members, Veterans, Law enforcement officers, Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, Firefighters
Great Choice Plus amortizing second mortgage
Support type: Deferred second mortgage
Amount or structure: Up to 5% of the sales price, capped at $15,000, as a 30-year amortizing second mortgage.
Repayment: Repay later on trigger
Who it fits: Active-duty military members, National Guard members, Veterans, Law enforcement officers, Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, Firefighters
Apply through a THDA-approved lender.
Apply through a THDA-approved lender; the completed file is locked at THDA submission, THDA attempts review in order received within two business days, and closing and delivery must fit the 60-day rate-lock window.
THDA says Homeownership for Heroes offers all the benefits of the Great Choice Home Loan plus a reduced interest rate for eligible hero borrowers. THDA's Great Choice Plus page says qualified Great Choice borrowers can also apply for a second-loan down payment assistance option with either $6,000 deferred assistance or up to 5% of the sales price, capped at $15,000.
2026-04-13
Effective date not captured.
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Comparison preview
Amount: Homeownership for Heroes is a reduced-rate Great Choice first-mortgage program for eligible hero borrowers. If a borrower also chooses Great Choice Plus, THDA offers an optional second-loan down payment assistance add-on with either $6,000 as a deferred forgivable second mortgage at 0% interest or up to 5% of the sales price, capped at $15,000, as a 30-year amortizing second mortgage at the same interest rate as the first mortgage.
Repayment: The Homeownership for Heroes first mortgage is repaid under standard Great Choice loan terms. If Great Choice Plus is added, the deferred option has no monthly payments, carries 0% interest, is forgiven at the end of the 30-year term, and becomes due in full if the home is sold or refinanced before then. The amortizing option is repaid with monthly payments over 30 years at the same interest rate as the first mortgage.
First-time buyer: Unknown
Timing: Apply through a THDA-approved lender; the completed file is locked at THDA submission, THDA attempts review in order received within two business days, and closing and delivery must fit the 60-day rate-lock window.
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