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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Bridgeport, CT (2026)
Bridgeport is Connecticut's largest city, located on Long Island Sound in Fairfield County with a median home price around $305,000. First-time buyers here can access the Home Bridgeport Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides up to $25,000 in forgivable loans through Building Neighborhoods Together. At the state level, the CHFA Time To Own program offers up to $50,000 in forgivable assistance for homes in high-opportunity areas or up to $25,000 elsewhere, and the CHFA DAP adds another $3,000 to $15,000. The Housing Development Fund offers the CT Forever program with up to $28,000 and the SmartMove program covering up to 25% of the purchase price. Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County also builds affordable homes for families earning 40-70% AMI. By stacking city and state programs, eligible Bridgeport buyers could potentially access over $75,000 in combined down payment and closing cost assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Bridgeport
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Bridgeport Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $25,000 | Yes | View → |
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | No down payment required; 0% interest 30-year mortgage | Yes | View → |
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) | Repayable Loan | $3,000 to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
| CHFA Time To Own Forgivable Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $50,000 in high-opportunity areas; up to $25,000 in other areas | Yes | View → |
| HDF CT Forever Down Payment Assistance | Repayable Loan | Up to $28,000 | Yes | View → |
| HDF Live Where You Work | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to $25,000 | Yes | View → |
| HDF SmartMove Connecticut | Repayable Loan | Up to 25% of the purchase price | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- No down payment required; 0% interest 30-year mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- $3,000 to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000 in high-opportunity areas; up to $25,000 in other areas
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $28,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 25% of the purchase price
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Check your eligibility. Review income limits for the Home Bridgeport program (80% AMI or below) and state programs like CHFA Time To Own (80-100% AMI) and HDF CT Forever. Each program has its own requirements.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. An 8-hour homebuyer education course is required for most programs. Building Neighborhoods Together (BNT) is a HUD-approved counseling agency in Bridgeport that offers courses. Contact them at 203-290-4255 at 570 State St., Bridgeport, CT 06604. The Housing Development Fund (HDF) also offers free orientation sessions and counseling at 940 Broad Street, Bridgeport. Call 203-338-9035.
- Step 3:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. You will need a written pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender for a fixed-rate mortgage. For CHFA programs (Time To Own, DAP), you must use a CHFA-approved lender.
- Step 4:
Apply for the Home Bridgeport program. Contact BNT at 203-290-4255 or 475-282-4872 to schedule an appointment. You will need to contribute a minimum of 1% of the purchase price from your own funds.
- Step 5:
Apply for state assistance. Work with your CHFA-approved lender to apply for the Time To Own forgivable loan and/or the DAP. You can also contact HDF about the CT Forever or SmartMove programs.
- Step 6:
Find a home within Bridgeport city limits. The Home Bridgeport program requires a one- or two-family residence within city limits. Condominiums are not eligible for the city program.
- Step 7:
Close on your home. Your lender and housing counselor will coordinate the closing process. Keep all program compliance requirements in mind, including owner-occupancy periods for forgivable loans.