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CENTRAL ARKANSAS HOMEBUYER RESOURCE GUIDE

  • Writer: Christy Robinson
    Christy Robinson
  • 1 day ago
  • 6 min read

Updated: 8 hours ago

Key with house keychain in door, hands on a laptop with house icons, a house with trees, and a cityscape at sunset. Text: Central Arkansas Homebuyer Resource Guide.

By Christy Robinson, Executive Broker & Central Arkansas Realtor | @therealestatement


Buying a home in Central Arkansas comes with a lot of questions — and even more moving parts. Whether you’re looking in Little Rock, Maumelle, Sherwood, Benton, Bryant, Cabot, Conway, Greenbrier, Jacksonville, Ward, Austin, or rural Faulkner or Lonoke County, having the right resources at your fingertips makes all the difference.

This guide pulls together EVERY essential link, program, incentive, school district, utility connection, hazard map, and service provider you’ll need — all in one place.


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🔥 1. Down Payment & Home Loan Assistance Programs in Arkansas

Arkansas offers surprisingly strong homebuyer incentives — many buyers leave money on the table simply because they don’t know what’s available.


🔹 ADFA (Arkansas Development Finance Authority) Programs

ADFA offers multiple statewide programs that can save buyers thousands:


  • StartSmart: Below-market interest rates for first-time buyers

  • Down Payment Assistance (DPA): $1,000–$15,000 toward down payment or closing costs

  • Move-Up Program: For repeat buyers

  • MCC Tax Credit: Up to 35% of mortgage interest paid back as a tax credit (up to $2,000/yr)


🔗 Approved lender list: https://adfa.arkansas.gov/find-a-lender


🔹 USDA Zero-Down Loans (Eligible Areas)

Many Central Arkansas suburbs qualify, including:

Greenbrier • Wooster • Vilonia • Ward • Austin • Cabot outskirts • Conway outskirts • Benton outskirts


🔹 VA Loans (Zero Down)

Perfect for military families relocating to Little Rock Air Force Base

(LRAFB).

  • Zero down payment

  • No mortgage insurance


🔹 City of Little Rock DPA

Up to 6% of purchase price, capped around $10,000.


🔹 Chenoa Fund

Down payment assistance available via approved lenders.



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🏦 2. Lenders Offering Homebuyer Incentives (Grants, Credits & Lower Costs)


Local lenders can dramatically reduce a buyer’s out-of-pocket costs. Always ask what specials they’re offering — incentives change frequently.


⭐ First Horizon Bank

  • First Responder Grant: Up to $9,000 for police, fire, EMS, military, educators, and healthcare workers.

  • Home Buyer Grant: Up to $8,000 for homes in eligible LMI census tracts.

  • Diversity Grant: Up to $8,000 — no repayment required.


⭐ TruService Community Federal Credit Union

  • Partners with Little Rock’s DPA program

  • 5% down conventional options

  • Sellers can contribute 3% toward closing costs


Approved ADFA lender across multiple Central Arkansas counties.


Participates in ADFA + community programs.


ADFA-approved lender located in a high-VA-buyer corridor.


📌 QUESTIONS BUYERS SHOULD ALWAYS ASK LENDERS


  1. Are you ADFA-approved?

  2. What buyer grants or credits do you offer?

  3. Do you cover appraisal fees or lender fees for new clients?

  4. Do you offer rate buydown incentives right now?

  5. Do you have ANY special profession-based incentives (nurses, teachers, military, etc.)?


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🏗️ 3. Builder Incentives in Central Arkansas

Builders frequently offer closing-cost credits, rate buydowns, or upgrade packages — but many buyers never hear about them.


⭐ D.R. Horton

Common incentives include “Main Street Stars” credits for:

Military, first responders, teachers, healthcare workers, etc.


Current known offerings include:

  • Maumelle – The Reserve at Country Club: $1,000+ credit

  • Ward – Moonlight Meadows: Select homes with incentives

  • North Little Rock – Crescent Grove: Builder credits on specific models

  • $25,000 FLEX CASH (used toward closing costs, rate buydowns, and upgrades — promotional)


⭐ Lennar – Little Rock

  • Up to $8,000 in closing cost credits


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🌐 4. Internet Providers (Urban & Rural)

Internet is one of the biggest obstacles for rural buyers — especially acreage, new builds, or outlying subdivisions.


🔹 Urban Providers


🔹 Rural Fiber Providers (HUGE for acreage buyers)


These are game-changers:


TCWorks (Conway/Greenbrier/Wooster)


HyperFiber (Lonoke, Faulkner, Saline County expansion)

NextLink Internet Fixed wireless + rural fiber


Windstream/Kinetic Often serves hard-to-reach areas

Starlink Satellite For very remote properties


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🏫 5. School Districts & Charter Options


Lonoke County / Cabot


Pulaski County


Saline County


Faulkner County


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💰 6. County Taxes, Utilities & Local Setups


Lonoke County (Cabot/Ward/Austin)


Pulaski County (Maumelle/Sherwood/NLR/LR)


Saline County (Benton/Bryant)


Faulkner County (Conway/Greenbrier)

Utilities: Conway Corp


Gas (all counties): Summit Utilities


USGS seismic hazard map of the U.S., showing color-coded earthquake risks. Red indicates highest hazard, blue lowest.

🌪️ 7. Flood, Tornado, & Hazard Maps


This is one of the MOST important sections for buyers in Arkansas — especially with rural homes, basements, drainage concerns, and storm seasons.


🔹 FEMA Flood Map

Check if a property is in a flood zone (mandatory for insurance + loans).


🔷 2. Arkansas GIS Hazard Maps

Full GIS hazard layers including:


🔹 Flood Factor (Property-Specific)

Provides property-specific flood risk scoring from 1–10 + future risk.

Amazing for buyers trying to compare two potential homes.


🔹 ClimateCheck (Storm/Heat/Drought/Fire Risk)

Free hazard analysis for:

  • Heat risk

  • Flood risk

  • Storm risk

  • Fire risk

  • Drought risk


🔹 NOAA Storm Prediction Center

For buyers needing tornado-risk context.


🔹 Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)

State hazard maps, emergency shelters, evacuation info, preparedness guides.


🔹 NFIP — National Flood Insurance Program

  • Flood insurance info

  • Premium estimator

  • Lender guidelines


🔹 Firewise USA (Wildfire Risk for Rural Homes)

Shows wildfire risk mitigation recommendations.


🔹 iDrive Arkansas — Real-Time Road Conditions

Real-time winter storm + hazard updates.


🔹 Power Outage Maps

Check storm outages or power grid vulnerability in an area.

For Greenbrier, Cabot, Lonoke, rural Faulkner.


🔹 EPA Radon Zone Lookup

Most of Central Arkansas is in Zone 1 or Zone 2 (high/moderate radon).


🔹 Web Soil Survey (Septic, Foundations, Drainage)

Important for new builds, acreage, septic systems, drainage.


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🔧 8. Inspectors, Title Companies & Local Service Pros


-Contact me for a comprehensive list at 501-830-7079-



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🏘️ 9. Parcel Viewers


Pulaski County Parcel Map & Property Data

Saline County Parcel Viewer

Faulkner County Parcel Search



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📐 10. Local Government & Permit Links

Great for buyers planning renovations or additions.


City Permitting Offices




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📑 11. Arkansas-Specific Insurance & Inspection Resources


Home Insurance Quote Tools


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💡 12. Energy Efficiency & Home Upgrade Resources


Entergy Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs


For insulation, HVAC upgrades, smart thermostats:


Federal Tax Credits for Home Improvements

  • Heat pump credit

  • Window/door upgrades

  • Solar credits


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🔑 13. Local Arkansas Consumer Protection Resources


Check Contractor Complaints / Licensing Issues


Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Alerts

Great for first-time buyers (moving scams, fake contractors, etc.)


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🧠 14. Homeowner Education Courses (Some Required for DPA)


eHome America – Arkansas First-Time Buyer Courses


Approved by ADFA & many lenders🔗 https://www.ehomeamerica.org


HUD-Approved Housing Counselors in Arkansas


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🗺️ 15. Relocation & Quality-of-Life Resources


Arkansas Crime Map (Public)


Important for relocation buyers:

🔗 https://ark.org/crimemaps/ (where available)


Public Parks Finder – Arkansas State Parks


Central Arkansas Transit & Commute Tools


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💧 16. Water Quality & Utility Reports

Surprisingly helpful for rural or well-water buyers.


Arkansas Drinking Water Quality Reports


Well Water Test Kits (Arkansas Department of Health)


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🏗️ 17. Arkansas-New-Build Resources


Arkansas Contractor License Lookup

Verify any builder or contractor in seconds:


Arkansas Manufactured Home Installation Rules

For buyers considering land + manufactured options:


Septic System Permitting (Arkansas Department of Health)

For acreage & rural lots:


Arkansas One Call (Call Before You Dig)

For buyers installing fences, sprinklers, or utilities:


Red calculator with white buttons on a teal background. The calculator displays basic math functions and a blank screen.

💻 18. Homeowner Cost Calculators & Tools


Monthly Payment & Affordability Calculators


Arkansas Closing Cost Calculator



🏁 Final Thoughts

Whether you're a first-time buyer or moving up into a bigger home, buying in Central Arkansas is easier when you have all the resources in one place.

If you’d like a PDF version based on this guide, just reach out — I’m happy to share it.

And if you’re looking to buy in Central Arkansas, I’d love to help you find the perfect home.

 
 
 
Keller Williams Realty 12814 Cantrell Rd. Logo White

Therealestatement 

501-830-7079 cell phone

501-907-5959 main office

©2025 by Christy Robinson and THEREALESTATEMENT, LLC. Proudly created with Wix.com

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