NOTE: The THDA’s 2026 Tennessee Housing Conference is coming up February 23–24 at the Music City Center in Nashville. Learn more and register at tnhousingconference.com.

In this post, we shine light on the valuable work of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), which was created by the state legislature in 1973 as the state’s housing finance agency.

THDA offers fixed-rate loans, down payment assistance, education, and first-responder benefits to qualified Tennesseans, helping them to connect with trusted lenders and REALTORS to turn homeownership dreams into reality.

The agency’s purpose is to promote the addition of affordable housing, the preservation and rehab of existing affordable housing, and the stability of the residential construction industry (and related industries) to assure a steady flow of new housing units.

The agency offers loan products through private-sector lending partners that help Tennesseans achieve the goal of homeownership. All THDA loans have 30-year, fixed-rate terms and offer down payment assistance as an optional second loan.

The agency provides servicing for these loans through Volunteer Mortgage Loan Servicing. (Proceeds directly support the operations of THDA and are reinvested in our state through THDA’s programs and grant initiatives.)

THDA also serves Tennessee residents in many other ways. They include:

• providing grants to preserve and create homes,
• offering rental assistance on several different levels,
• assisting in the creation and maintenance of rental housing,
• providing educational opportunities, and
• helping other state agencies with housing missions to solve problems and save taxpayers’ money.

Here is a short list of some of the many programs THDA offers in a broad range of categories. Please keep these in mind as any buyers, sellers, or other folks in your network and area of service are looking for help and opportunities. Click on any of the titles below to learn more.

• Info for REALTORS
• Great Choice Home Loans and Great Choice Plus
• Rental Housing Property Managers, Owners, and Landlords
• Help for Homeowners
• Homebuyer Education
• Insights for Lenders
• Homelessness Resources
• Tennessee Housing Trust Fund (THTF) details
• Housing Education and Counseling Providers
• Project-Based Voucher Programs (Partners) for rental assistance

The agency also has a Research and Planning department that compiles reports of impacts and investments across the state from year to year.

In addition, THDA provides interactive maps, housing indicators, housing market trends, issue briefs, and other helpful resources. Learn more about all of those HERE.

Finally, you can read inspiring stories from those who have benefited from THDA services HERE.

That’s just scratching the surface, of course; you can click over to the main THDA page to explore more options on its menu of services and programs.

EMTAR appreciates the 53 years (and counting) of important services provided by our friends at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency!

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.