Across the country, as housing and other costs continue to outpace income increases, many middle-class homebuyers are finding they can’t easily scrape together a down payment. That has prompted city, state and nonprofit programs to expand eligibility for down-payment support — with some areas offering loans to people making more than $200,000. According to Down Payment Resource, a company that compiles information on more than 2,700 home-buying programs, more than 115 programs have raised their income threshold requirements since 2023. The median U.S. home price now tops $405,000. The Urban Institute found that home sales prices have risen 80% since 2017, while wages have grown 38%.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/9/2026