8 US Cities That Will Cover Your Down Payment If You Relocate
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Gabrielle Olya
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Molly Sullivan
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Buying a home is expensive, and relocation incentives often fall short of covering real costs. But some cities do offer enough cash to cover at least 3% of the area’s average home price — the minimum down payment for a conventional mortgage.
As identified by Mortgage Research Network, here’s where you can move and start building equity without draining your savings.
1. Jackson, Michigan
- Average home price: $178,000
- Incentive: $35,000
- Down payment equivalent: 19.7%
The city of Jackson is building 100 new three-bedroom homes priced at $178,000 that are open to new residents. If you’re willing to relocate, you can receive $25,000 in down payment assistance from the city of Jackson and an additional $10,000 from the Michigan State Housing Development assistance program.
2. West Memphis, Arkansas
- Average home price: $122,000
- Incentive: $10,000
- Down payment equivalent: 8.2%
West Memphis provides a $10,000 relocation incentive to remote workers earning at least $75,000 annually, who currently live outside the area and commit to purchasing a home within six months.
3. Topeka, Kansas
- Average home price: $200,000
- Incentive: $15,000
- Down payment equivalent: 7.5%
Topeka offers up to $15,000 through its Choose Topeka relocation program. To qualify, you must work a full-time, in-person role with a participating employer, move to Shawnee County, buy a home within one year, and complete both a one-year survey and a Choose Topeka immersion program.
4. St. Joseph, Michigan
- Average home price: $200,000
- Incentive: $10,000-$15,000
- Down payment equivalent: 5%
Through the Move to Michigan program, you can get up to $15,000 if you enroll children in local public schools, purchase a home of at least $200,000 and establish full-time residency in the state. You may also receive perks like a year of coworking space, car service to nearby airports or an annual rail pass.
5. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Average home price: $218,000
- Incentive: $10,000
- Down payment equivalent: 4.6%
To qualify for the Tulsa Remote program’s $10,000 incentive, you must be at least 18, authorized to work in the U.S., employed full time in a remote role outside Oklahoma, have lived outside the state for at least one year prior to applying and be able to move within 12 months of approval.
6. Morgantown, West Virginia
- Average home price: $278,000
- Incentive: $12,000
- Down payment equivalent: 4.3%
Morgantown’s Ascend WV program offers a $12,000 incentive and an additional $2,500 in free outdoor gear rentals. To qualify, you must establish and maintain full-time residency for a full 24-month term.
7. Newton, Iowa
- Average home price: $240,000
- Incentive: $10,000
- Down payment equivalent: 4.2%
Through the Newton Housing Initiative, you can receive a $10,000 incentive with the purchase of a newly built home priced at $240,000 or more as your primary residence.
8. Mattoon, Illinois
- Average home price: $120,000
- Incentive: $5,000
- Down payment equivalent: 4.1%
The Move to Mattoon program provides a $5,000 incentive and an additional $3,000 in local services, plus a full year of free coworking space. To qualify, you must live more than 100 miles from Mattoon, relocate within city limits for at least two years, earn at least $45,000 as a remote worker and be preapproved for the program.
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