Skip to main content

FHA Loans in Michigan:
Requirements, Limits & Local Programs

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

The short version

FHA in Michigan at a Glance

FHA loans are government-backed mortgages that let Michigan 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. Michigan's affordability and its statewide MSHDA assistance make FHA a strong fit here — and Detroit stands out, with a city program offering up to $25,000 in down payment help. The one thing to plan for is Michigan's older housing stock, which the FHA appraisal scrutinizes.

Michigan-specific note: Every Michigan county uses the 2026 FHA one-unit limit of $524,225 — Michigan has no high-cost counties, so the same figure applies statewide, from Wayne (Detroit) and Kent (Grand Rapids) to Washtenaw (Ann Arbor). With a statewide median near $294,000, most buyers have comfortable room under the limit.

Michigan housing market

Local Market Snapshot

Michigan pairs Midwest affordability with rising prices — and one of the most generous city down payment programs in the country in Detroit.

Median Sale Price
$293,956

Michigan statewide median — below the national $417,700 median

+5.4% YoY
Days on Market
33 days

Statewide average — competitive in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor

Stable
Homes Sold
9,713

Statewide, May 2026 — a deep, active market

Stable
FHA Share (National)
17%

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

National avg

Michigan's +5.4% year-over-year price growth is among the stronger figures in our footprint, and Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor are the most competitive metros. Detroit is a different story: prices are lower, the city's $25,000 down payment program is unusually generous, and older homes mean the FHA appraisal deserves attention up front.

Down payment help

Michigan First-Time Buyer Programs

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

MSHDA MI Home Loan

State standard down payment assistance

MI Home DPA
Benefit
Up to $10,000 zero-interest, non-amortizing second mortgage
Who qualifies
First-time buyers (or repeat buyers in targeted areas) with a 640+ score

MSHDA MI Home Loan Flex

Flexible statewide down payment pairing

Flex DPA
Benefit
Up to $10,000 non-amortizing assistance
Who qualifies
First-time and repeat buyers statewide meeting flexible underwriting

Detroit Down Payment Assistance Program

City neighborhood-equity matching grant

City Resident Grant
Benefit
Up to $25,000 direct down payment assistance
Who qualifies
Detroit residents who have lived in the city 3+ consecutive years

USDA + FHA (Rural Michigan)

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. MSHDA assistance is designed to sit on top of an FHA (or conventional) first mortgage from a participating lender, and it can pair the 3.5% FHA down payment with up to $10,000 in help. In Detroit, the city's program can add up to $25,000 more for qualifying long-term residents. MSHDA generally wants a 640+ credit score, above FHA's 580 floor.

Real scenarios

Michigan FHA Borrower Profiles

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

Profile A
Long-term Detroit resident

Has lived in Detroit 5 years, buying a $185,000 home in the city. Credit 652, W-2 income. May combine the FHA 3.5% down payment, MSHDA assistance, and the Detroit program (up to $25,000 for 3+ year residents) — a stack that can bring cash-to-close very low. We confirm residency documentation early.

Detroit program eligibleStack MSHDA + city~40 day close
Profile B
First-time buyer, Grand Rapids

Competing for a $310,000 home in fast-moving Grand Rapids. Credit 698, stable income. FHA works, and MSHDA MI Home can add up to $10,000 — but in a competitive metro, a clean pre-approval is what wins. Comfortably below the $524,225 limit.

MSHDA eligibleGet pre-approved first30–40 day close
Profile C
Older-home buyer, Detroit / Flint

Buying a $150,000 pre-1950 home. FHA is available, but the appraisal will scrutinize lead paint (pre-1978), the roof, and mechanical systems. We flag likely repair items before the offer so the seller can address them — the most common reason an FHA deal on an older Michigan home slips.

Appraisal scrutinyRepairs before closing40–50 day close
Profile D
Self-employed buyer, Ann Arbor

2-year self-employed history, Schedule C income averaging $88,000/year after write-downs, credit 690. FHA accepts a 2-year average. Needs 2 years of tax returns, a year-to-date P&L, and business bank statements. Down payment: 3.5% (~$13,300 on a $380K home).

2-yr tax returns needed+7–10 day underwriting40–52 day close

Run the numbers

Michigan FHA Payment Estimator

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

Michigan median: $293,956 · FHA limit: $524,225

Rates vary by credit score and lender

Monthly P&I
$1,872

Principal & interest

Monthly MIP
$130

Mortgage insurance premium (MIP)

Total Monthly
$2,002

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

Michigan FHA Loan FAQs

From the field

A Michigan Loan Officer's Take on FHA

Intra Mortgage Michigan loan officer
"Michigan has two things going for FHA buyers that a lot of states don't: MSHDA statewide, and Detroit's program on top of it — up to $25,000 for long-term residents. Where we earn our keep is the appraisal. The housing stock is older, so we flag the roof, the paint, the mechanicals before the offer goes in. Handle that up front and the FHA close is smooth."

Katie Smith

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

Katie is licensed across Michigan and works with buyers from Detroit and the surrounding metro to Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. She specializes in helping first-time buyers stack MSHDA and city assistance with FHA — and in getting ahead of the appraisal on older Michigan homes.

What she watches for on Michigan FHA files:

  • Property-condition flags on older homes — roof, lead paint, mechanicals
  • Detroit program residency documentation (3+ consecutive years)
  • Buyers at 580–639 who want MSHDA but need more credit to qualify
MSHDA-Participating Lender
Access to Michigan'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 a Michigan FHA specialist

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