Identify the Delaware mortgage and assistance options separately
The Delaware State Housing Authority, presented on its current site as Housing Delaware, offers statewide homebuyer resources through the Delaware Mortgage Program. Browse city directories above to research providers, then use the agency's lender and program resources to verify participation. Mortgage Firm is an independent directory; inclusion here does not establish agency approval or a lender's program participation.
Confirm the first mortgage before selecting an assistance option
Welcome Home is designed for first-time buyers; Open Door serves first-time and repeat buyers. Smart Start is the first-mortgage option without down-payment or closing-cost assistance. Ask the lender to identify both the first-mortgage program and the proposed assistance product, and to review your full homeownership history. Similar product names do not mean identical requirements. Use the current Delaware Mortgage Program resources when comparing an older brochure or loan discussion with the proposed financing.
The agency's participating-lender directory includes county-specific phone contacts and a notation for FHA 203k Limited participation. Check the relevant contact and notation, then ask the loan officer which products they currently handle for the actual purchase. A top-producer label describes the agency's production designation; it does not establish that a lender or offer is the best fit for a household. Keep the first mortgage, any assistance loan and closing requirements identifiable when discussing the package.
Treat down-payment assistance as a second mortgage
First State, Keys4You and Take5 are described as second mortgages with deferred payments. The agency lists refinance, sale, title transfer and ending primary-residence use as repayment events. Ask for the actual assistance note and explain any planned change in ownership or occupancy to the lender. No monthly assistance payment does not mean automatic forgiveness. Welcome Home and Open Door offer different product selections, so confirm the proposed pairing and remaining closing cash rather than assuming every assistance option can be added to either first mortgage.
Check the property county and census tract
Housing Delaware's income tables distinguish the program, household size and purchase county, with New Castle in a separate row from Kent and Sussex. Targeted-area rules concern specified census tracts, not an entire county or city. The agency links the FFIEC geocoding system for an address check. Have the lender identify the property's county and tract and confirm which current income and purchase-price tables apply. A city-directory page, mailing address or lender office location does not establish a targeted-area designation or a program exception.
Separate repair financing from the closing-cost assistance
Diamond in the Rough is listed under Welcome Home and requires qualification for the FHA 203(k) limited program. Its assistance second mortgage concerns down payment and closing costs; it should not be read as a promise to pay every repair expense. Ask a participating lender that handles the repair program to review the property, work scope, contractor documents and funding sequence. Identify which costs belong in the purchase-and-repair mortgage and which belong in the assistance or buyer's cash budget before committing to the project.
Choose the counseling service separately from an introductory event
Housing Delaware's counseling directory lists agencies serving residents across New Castle, Kent and Sussex. Its county tags identify office locations, so ask the agency directly about service coverage, appointment format, cost and the preparation help you need. The directory includes phone numbers and agency websites. Describe whether you need a household-budget discussion, purchase preparation or a lender-required counseling record. If unsure whom to contact, the homeownership team at 302-739-4263 can help locate a counseling resource.
The agency's event calendar contains homebuyer seminars as well as lender training and other meetings. Open the event details to identify the intended audience, provider and format. Ask the lender and educator whether that specific event produces any required completion record; an introductory seminar should not be assumed to replace program counseling. Use the current calendar for dates and registration instructions, and confirm attendance arrangements directly rather than treating a published event as a reserved seat or approved loan.
Published by Mortgage Firm, an independent directory. Program administrators and lenders determine current availability and eligibility. Our editorial approach