A practical starting point for buying in Indiana
Keep two lists as you research: providers you want to contact and programs you want to ask about. A business listing helps with the first. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and housing counselors can help you investigate the second.
Match the IHCDA program to the question you need answered
IHCDA’s homeownership page lists several distinct options. First Step includes down payment assistance that the agency describes as non-forgivable. Step Down is a rate-only purchase option. Next Home also includes down payment assistance. These names do not describe interchangeable offers, and assistance should not automatically be treated as a grant.
When speaking with a participating lender, ask for the specific program name and its current terms in writing. Compare the proposed mortgage and any assistance together: the amount due at closing is only one part of the decision.
Questions to take with you
- Does this option include assistance, and what repayment obligations come with it?
- What happens to the assistance if I sell, refinance, or stop occupying the home?
- Can you show me the same purchase scenario with and without this program?
Use the state’s lender list for program participation
IHCDA publishes its own participating-lender list with organization names and contact information. Use it when investigating an IHCDA program, then ask the company which contact handles that program for your transaction.
Mortgage Firm’s city directories serve a different purpose: they organize listed businesses and their contact details. Appearing here does not establish IHCDA participation, and a matching company name does not confirm that every branch or loan officer handles the same programs. Keep the exact company, office, and contact name with your notes.
Check the right limits before narrowing your search
IHCDA publishes separate income and acquisition-limit resources for different program and loan combinations. Its page also keeps archived versions. Start with the current resource for the exact program being discussed rather than applying one figure to every Indiana purchase.
Give the lender the property address, county, expected purchase price, and the household information it requests. Ask which published limits apply and how eligibility is assessed. If you are comparing homes across jurisdictions, have each address checked instead of assuming the answer carries over.
Questions to take with you
- Which program and loan type does this limit sheet cover?
- Which version applies to my application, and what information do you need to check it?
- Are there additional requirements or steps before funds can be reserved?
Find preparation help before choosing a mortgage
HUD’s housing counseling network includes pre-purchase counseling and homebuyer education. HUD distinguishes individual counseling, which addresses a household’s circumstances, from workshops that give a general overview. Ask for the service you need when contacting an agency; not every agency offers every service.
Use the CFPB’s housing counselor finder with your Indiana ZIP code, then confirm appointment options and any fees directly. If a lender or assistance program requires education, ask which course or provider it accepts before enrolling.
Published by Mortgage Firm, an independent directory. Program administrators and lenders determine current availability and eligibility. Our editorial approach