A THDA-approved lender who tells you straight.
This site exists to make Tennessee's down payment assistance easy to understand. Mike Certo is a Branch Manager and licensed loan officer with Cornerstone First Mortgage, a THDA-approved participating lender. He originates the Great Choice first mortgage and the Great Choice Plus assistance directly, this isn't a lead-referral directory.
Why this site exists
Search "down payment assistance in Tennessee" and you'll hit a stack of pages that either oversimplify THDA or quote numbers that are a year out of date. We keep this site current to the actual THDA guidelines and limits, the $500,000 price cap, the county income tables, the $6,000/$10,000 forgivable second, the 5% amortizing option, and we explain the tradeoffs honestly. Down payment assistance is a great tool for a lot of buyers. It isn't right for everyone, and when it isn't, we say so.
What we do
- Originate THDA loans directly. Great Choice, Great Choice Plus, Homeownership for Heroes, and HFA Advantage.
- Match the option to your numbers, forgivable vs. amortizing, first-time vs. targeted-county, FHA vs. conventional.
- Serve Tennessee statewide. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, and every county in between.
- Give honest tradeoff advice, including when saving your own down payment beats taking assistance.
Cornerstone First Mortgage
Cornerstone First Mortgage, LLC (NMLS #173855) is a national mortgage lender. Mike Certo (NMLS #260555) runs the branch behind this site and the broader Loan Experts family of state-specific mortgage guides. Reach him at (480) 296-6513 or mcerto@cfmtg.com.