Down payment assistance (DPA) loans for FHA help homebuyers cover their required down payment and sometimes closing costs when purchasing a home with an FHA loan. These programs are usually offered by state or local housing agencies, nonprofits, or employers and are often geared toward first-time or low-to-moderate-income buyers. Assistance can come as a grant, forgivable loan, or deferred-payment loan that doesn't need to be repaid until the home is sold or refinanced. DPA makes homeownership more accessible by reducing the upfront cash needed to buy a home.