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FHA Loans in Indiana:
Requirements, Limits & Local Programs

3.5%Min. down payment
580Min. credit score
$524,225FHA loan limit — every Indiana county
43%Max debt-to-income ratio

The short version

FHA in Indiana at a Glance

FHA loans are government-backed mortgages that let Indiana buyers put as little as 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher.

3.5%
Min. down payment (580+ score)
10%
Down payment if score 500–579
1.75%
Upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP)

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and originated by FHA-approved lenders like Intra Mortgage. Indiana is one of the most affordable states in the country, which makes FHA especially powerful here: the statewide median sits far below the FHA loan limit, so the limit is almost never the constraint — your credit, down payment, and debt-to-income ratio are.

Indiana-specific note: Every Indiana county uses the 2026 FHA one-unit limit of $524,225 — Indiana has no high-cost counties, so the same figure applies statewide, from Marion (Indianapolis) to Allen (Fort Wayne) to the Hamilton County suburbs (Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville). With a statewide median near $280,000, most buyers have plenty of headroom under the limit.

Indiana housing market

Local Market Snapshot

Indiana remains one of the Midwest's most affordable markets — good news for FHA buyers stretching a down payment.

Median Sale Price
$280,055

Indiana statewide median — well below the national $417,700 median

+3.7% YoY
Days on Market
36 days

Statewide average — competitive in the Indy suburbs, calmer elsewhere

Stable
Homes Sold
7,520

Statewide, May 2026 — steady, buyer-accessible inventory

Stable
FHA Share (National)
17%

Of U.S. purchase loans are FHA — the flexible-credit path many IN buyers use

National avg

Indiana's low prices mean many buyers can qualify for an FHA loan with a down payment under $10,000. The Indianapolis metro — especially the Hamilton County suburbs of Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville — is the most competitive part of the state, where coming in pre-approved and ready to move matters most.

Down payment help

Indiana First-Time Buyer Programs

These IHCDA and local programs can be layered on top of an FHA loan to reduce your out-of-pocket costs at closing.

IHCDA First Step (Next Home + DPA)

State standard down payment assistance

First Step DPA
Benefit
Up to 3.5% of the purchase price as down payment assistance
Who qualifies
First-time and eligible repeat buyers meeting IHCDA income and 640+ credit limits

IHCDA Next Home

Statewide assistance for repeat buyers

Next Home DPA
Benefit
Up to 3.5% of the purchase price toward down payment or closing costs
Who qualifies
First-time and repeat buyers statewide meeting income and credit requirements

IHCDA Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

Federal tax credit on mortgage interest

Tax Credit
Benefit
Annual federal tax credit worth a share of the mortgage interest you pay
Who qualifies
Income- and purchase-price-eligible buyers; can pair with an IHCDA loan

USDA + FHA (Rural Indiana)

Applicable in eligible rural counties

Combo
Benefit
0% down USDA or 3.5% FHA in eligible areas
Who qualifies
Properties outside urbanized areas; income limits apply
Stack these programs. IHCDA down payment assistance is designed to sit on top of an FHA (or conventional) first mortgage from a participating lender. Layered correctly, your 3.5% FHA down payment can be largely or fully covered by assistance — you'll still owe closing costs unless the seller or a program covers them. Note that IHCDA programs generally want a 640+ credit score, a step above FHA's 580 floor.

Real scenarios

Indiana FHA Borrower Profiles

Common buyer combinations we see in Indiana — and how FHA works for each.

Profile A
First-time buyer, Indianapolis

Buying a $255,000 home in the Indy metro. W-2 income at $58,000/year, credit score 662, minimal debt. Qualifies for IHCDA First Step (640+ score), covering the 3.5% FHA down payment plus part of closing. Total cash needed at closing: modest, and well under the FHA limit.

3.5% downIHCDA eligible~35 day close
Profile B
Suburban buyer, Carmel / Fishers

Competing for a $370,000 home in fast-moving Hamilton County. Credit 705, stable W-2 income. FHA works, but in the most competitive Indy suburbs, coming in fully pre-approved is what wins the offer. Still comfortably below the $524,225 limit.

Get pre-approved firstCompetitive market30–40 day close
Profile C
Self-employed buyer, Bloomington

2-year self-employed history, Schedule C income averaging $71,000/year after write-downs, credit score 649. FHA accepts a 2-year average. Needs 2 years of complete tax returns, a year-to-date P&L, and business bank statements. Down payment: 3.5% (~$8,750 on a $250K home).

2-yr tax returns needed+7–10 day underwriting40–52 day close
Profile D
Credit-rebuilding buyer, Fort Wayne

Credit score 588 after a resolved collection. FHA allows 580 with 3.5% down, so this buyer qualifies — but likely not for IHCDA assistance, which wants 640+. Buying a $205,000 home; down payment 3.5% ($7,175). A few months of credit work could unlock IHCDA next time.

Score 580–619 tierIHCDA needs 640+36–45 day close

Run the numbers

Indiana FHA Payment Estimator

Estimate your monthly payment including MIP — the piece most calculators leave out.

Indiana median: $280,055 · FHA limit: $524,225

Rates vary by credit score and lender

Monthly P&I
$1,784

Principal & interest

Monthly MIP
$124

Mortgage insurance premium (MIP)

Total Monthly
$1,907

Before tax & insurance

Talk to a loan officer

Estimates only. Does not include property tax, homeowner's insurance, or HOA dues. MIP rate assumes LTV > 90% for loans ≥ 30 years. Not a commitment to lend.

Answers to real questions

Indiana FHA Loan FAQs

From the field

An Indiana Loan Officer's Take on FHA

Intra Mortgage Indiana loan officer
"I grew up in Fort Wayne, so Indiana buyers are personal to me. The thing I tell people here: our prices are low enough that the FHA limit almost never matters — it's your credit and your debt-to-income that decide the deal. Get to a 640 and IHCDA assistance opens up, which can cover most of your down payment. That's a huge advantage in a state this affordable."

Katie Smith

VP of Operations & Senior Loan Officer, Intra Mortgage — Licensed in FL, IN, OH, MI

Katie is originally from Fort Wayne and licensed across Indiana, so she knows the state's markets — from the competitive Indy suburbs to more affordable communities — firsthand. She specializes in first-time buyers layering IHCDA assistance with FHA to cut cash-to-close.

What she watches for on Indiana FHA files:

  • Buyers at 580–639 who want IHCDA but need a few points more credit to qualify
  • Property-condition flags on older homes in Fort Wayne, Gary, and central Indy
  • Self-employed buyers missing year 2 of tax returns at application
IHCDA-Participating Lender
Access to Indiana's DPA programs
5.0 Google Rating
Verified borrower reviews
NMLS #2620605
Equal Housing Lender
Licensed in FL, IN, OH, MI
Multi-state mortgage guidance
Ready to move forward?

Talk to an Indiana FHA specialist

Get straight answers on limits, IHCDA assistance, and what you actually need to close — no obligation.