Down Payment Assistance

The Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center offers a program to help with the down payment, closing costs, and principal reduction for both first time and repeat home buyers. Our assistance is funded by the City of Fort Smith HOME funds and is offered to low and moderate income individuals and families. The program requires that the buyer occupies the home being purchased as their primary residence and that they utilize an approved lender. The clients must attend a C-SCDC Homebuyer Education class and participate in one-on-one pre-purchase counseling.

Note: Not all requirements are listed below. Please complete an application in order to be approved for assistance.

NOTE: we have no remaining funds for this year, please check back in 2026.

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Fort Smith Homebuyers Assistance Program

Eligible Uses

FSHAP funds can be used to cover up to $10,000 of a borrower’s down payment and closing costs

FSHAP funds can be used to subsidize the purchase price of a home by up to $40,000.

The subsidy may not be more than is needed to make the purchase of a home affordable

Eligible Properties

Only properties within the corporate limits of the City of Fort Smith, AR are eligible.

Purchase Price cannot exceed $160,000 for existing homes. Existing homes are properties who have been complete for one year or more or have been complete for less than one year but were previously occupied.

Purchase Price cannot exceed $195,000 for new construction homes. New construction homes are properties that have been complete for less than one year and have never been occupied. Note: funds cannot be obligated for houses in construction or pre-construction phases.

Each property must pass an environmental review and Minimum Housing Standards Inspection conducted by the City of Fort Smith prior to funds being obligated. Properties constructed prior to 1978 will be inspected for lead by the City of Fort Smith.

Buyer Requirements

Must receive Housing Counseling provided by a HUD Certified Housing Counselor.
- This can be from C-SCDC or another HUD Certified Counseling Agency
- Buyers must take our Homebuyer Education Course in addition to their counseling!
  - Find more information about Homebuyer Education at https://www.cscdc.net/education/
- Must complete an application, including supporting documentation, and submit to C-SCDC.
- Buyers must be certified as Income Eligible by C-SCDC using the HUD Income Calculator.

Affordability Period

The FSHAP investment is secured with a Deed Restriction. The affordability period is the length of time the deed restriction is in place. This affordability period is either 5, 10, or 15 years depending on the total amount of assistance received. If the assisted borrower sells prior to the end of their affordability period, a portion of the assistance must be repaid to the City of Fort Smith to be used to further affordable housing.