Ohio First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Assistance

Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) currently lists 7 programs for Ohio buyers, with down payment help up to 3.5% of the price (about $9,202 on a median-priced home) through OHFA Down Payment Assistance. Figures below were read from the agency's own pages on September 11, 2026.

Ohio first-time buyer programs open now

Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) is the state's housing finance agency (homebuyer programs page). It runs 7 down payment or closing-cost assistance programs. Has not owned or had an ownership interest in a primary residence in the last three years (waived for the general OHFA Homebuyer Program / Down Payment Assistance product, which is open to repeat buyers too;

Program	Type	Amount	First-time only	Min. credit	Income limit
OHFA Down Payment Assistance source	Forgivable second loan	3% of the purchase price for conventional loans or 3.5% for government loans (FHA, VA, USDA)	No	640	See program page
Grants for Grads source	Forgivable second loan	3% of the purchase price for conventional loans or 3.5% for government loans (FHA, VA, USDA)	Yes	640	See program page
Ohio Heroes source	Program	See program page	No	n/a	See program page
Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Plus) source	Tax credit (MCC)	Federal tax credit of 40% of home mortgage interest paid; maximum annual credit $2,000	Yes	640	See program page
Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Basic) source	Tax credit (MCC)	Federal tax credit of 20% of home mortgage interest for properties in a target area, or 15% for all other properties	Yes	n/a	See program page
Next Home source	Program	See program page	No	n/a	See program page
Ohio Homebuyer Plus source	Program	See program page	No	n/a	See program page

OHFA Down Payment Assistance. Terms: Forgiven after 7 years; if the home is sold within 7 years, all assistance must be repaid Must pair with: An OHFA 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage (conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA-RD) Homebuyer education: required Where: statewide (limits vary by all 88 counties) Program page
Grants for Grads. Terms: Discounted mortgage interest rate plus down payment assistance forgiven after 5 years, as long as the borrower remains in Ohio; moving out of Ohio and selling within 5 years requires partial/full repayment Must pair with: An OHFA first mortgage Homebuyer education: required Program page
Ohio Heroes. Terms: Discounted mortgage interest rate for eligible military, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and educators; program details not fully captured in this session Must pair with: An OHFA first mortgage Homebuyer education: required Program page
Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Plus). Terms: Non-refundable federal tax credit in addition to the standard mortgage interest deduction; usable when paired with an OHFA MTC Plus loan; homebuyers may have a slightly higher interest rate; can be combined with OHFA Down Payment Assistance Must pair with: An OHFA first mortgage (for MTC Plus) Homebuyer education: required Program page
Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Basic). Terms: Non-refundable federal tax credit usable with a non-OHFA mortgage from the borrower's own lender Must pair with: Any mortgage (does not require an OHFA first mortgage) Program page
Next Home. Terms: Program details not fully captured in this session Program page
Ohio Homebuyer Plus. Terms: Tax-advantaged savings account program (administered by the Ohio Treasurer of State, not OHFA) to help Ohioans save for a home purchase Program page

Mortgage credit certificate in Ohio

Ohio offers a mortgage credit certificate (OHFA Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Plus / MTC Basic)), a federal tax credit worth 40% of the mortgage interest you pay each year, for as long as you live in the home. MCC program page

City and county programs in Ohio

Local governments run their own down payment funds on top of the state programs. These can be combined with a state loan in most cases; each has its own income limit and area.

City of Columbus: American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI). Up to 6% of the purchase price, maximum loan of $14,999. Forgivable second loan. Income limit: At or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) per HUD; 2026 HOME Income Limits published separately. First-time buyers only. Official page

How little you can put down

You do not need 20% down. Conventional loans go as low as 3% (through programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible), FHA loans start at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can require nothing down. On Ohio's median-priced home (about $262,900), 3% down is roughly $7,887. Putting 20% down lets you skip private mortgage insurance, but most first-time buyers put down far less.

Who counts as a first-time buyer

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years, so many repeat buyers qualify again. Ohio programs often add income and purchase-price limits, which is another reason to confirm the details with Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

Stack a buyer rebate on top in Ohio

Down-payment assistance and a buyer commission rebate are two different things, and in Ohio you can use both. Assistance from Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) helps with your down payment and closing costs; a buyer rebate returns about 2% of the price to you at closing (roughly $5,258 on a median-priced home), which can cover much of your closing bill.

See Ohio buyer rebates → See Ohio closing costs →

You may qualify for more help in your county

City and county governments in Ohio run their own down payment programs on top of the state ones, and most can be combined with a state loan. Each county page lists the local programs, income limits and local closing costs alongside the state programs:

Franklin County: local help up to $14,999

Frequently asked questions

What first-time home buyer programs are available in Ohio?

Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) lists 7 programs: OHFA Down Payment Assistance, Grants for Grads, Ohio Heroes, Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Plus), Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Basic), Next Home, Ohio Homebuyer Plus. Down payment help runs up to 3.5% of the price (about $9,202 on a median-priced home). City of Columbus also run local down payment programs.

How much down payment assistance can you get in Ohio?

Up to 3.5% of the price (about $9,202 on a median-priced home) through OHFA Down Payment Assistance (forgivable second loan). Other Ohio programs offer different amounts; see the table on this page for each one.

Do you have to be a first-time buyer to qualify in Ohio?

Not for every program. 4 of 7 Ohio programs are open to repeat buyers. Has not owned or had an ownership interest in a primary residence in the last three years (waived for the general OHFA Homebuyer Program / Down Payment Assistance product, which is open to repeat buyers too; first-time status is required for Grants for Grads and Mortgage Tax Credit).

How much down payment do you need in Ohio?

As little as 3% on a conventional loan, 3.5% on an FHA loan, and 0% on VA or USDA loans. On Ohio's median-priced home (about $262,900), 3% is roughly $7,887. You do not need 20% down, though 20% lets you avoid mortgage insurance.

Who counts as a first-time home buyer?

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years. Some Ohio programs also have income and purchase-price limits, so check with Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

Can I combine assistance with a buyer rebate in Ohio?

Yes. A buyer commission rebate is separate from down-payment assistance and is legal in Ohio. Assistance helps with your down payment and closing costs up front; a rebate returns about 2% of the price at closing, which you can put toward closing costs. You can use both.

Official sources

Ohio program details last verified against Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) on September 11, 2026.

Read the full guide to the cash you need to buy →

This is general information, not financial advice. Program details, limits, and loan terms change; confirm the current rules with Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and your lender before you rely on them.

See first-time buyer programs in all states