How Homebuyer Assistance Income Limits Actually Work
Most first-time homebuyer and down payment assistance programs in the US don't judge eligibility on a flat income number. Instead, they compare your household income to a percentage of your area's median income, or AMI, adjusted for how many people live in your household. A single person typically qualifies at a lower dollar threshold than a family of four, even at the same percentage tier, because HUD's standard household size adjustment scales the base AMI up or down. This calculator adjusts your area's published AMI for your household size, then applies your program's income tier (commonly 80%, 100%, or 120% of AMI) to show the exact dollar limit you need to stay under.
How It's Calculated
| Household Size | % of Base AMI |
|---|---|
| 1 person | 70% |
| 2 people | 80% |
| 3 people | 90% |
| 4 people | 100% (base) |
| 5 people | 108% |
| 6+ people | 116% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AMI is the midpoint household income for your county, published annually by HUD. Programs set eligibility as a percentage of it, adjusted for household size.
HUD publishes AMI figures by county, and local housing agencies typically list the exact figure used for their program.
※ Reference estimate only. Exact income limits, tiers, and household size adjustments vary by program — confirm with your local housing agency.