See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 11, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Independence, KY (2026)
Independence is the county seat of Kenton County in Northern Kentucky, located about 15 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio. With a median home price around $255,000, it offers suburban affordability within the greater Cincinnati metro. Independence buyers benefit from the Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium Homebuyer Assistance program, which provides up to $10,000 in zero-interest forgivable loans, and the KHC Hardest Hit Fund DPA, which offers another $10,000 forgivable loan exclusively for Kenton County properties. The FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program adds grants of $10,000 to $20,000, and the HONK Lease-to-Own program serves the area as well. By stacking these local, state, and federal programs, Independence homebuyers could access $30,000 or more in combined assistance.
County Programs in Kenton County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KHC Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance (HHF-DAP) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | View → |
| Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium Homebuyer Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Kentucky
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program | Grant | Grants of $10,000 to $20,000; up to $25,000 for veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses | Yes | View → |
| KHC Affordable Down Payment Assistance (Affordable DAP) | Repayable Loan | Up to $7,500 | No | View → |
| KHC Regular Down Payment Assistance (DAP) | Repayable Loan | Up to $12,500 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Grants of $10,000 to $20,000; up to $25,000 for veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $12,500
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
- 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:
- 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
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati NKY Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with 0% interest mortgage | No | View → |
| HONK Lease-to-Own Homeownership Program | Deferred Loan | Varies; portion of monthly lease payments gifted back at purchase for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with 0% interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Varies; portion of monthly lease payments gifted back at purchase for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Kenton County. The KHC Hardest Hit Fund DPA also requires first-time buyer status (no homeownership in the past three years). Contact a KHC-approved lender to determine your specific income limits.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Brighton Center, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency in Northern Kentucky, offers free and low-cost homebuyer education courses including virtual workshops and a six-hour Saturday class. Contact their Financial Wellness Department at (859) 491-8303 to register.
Step 3: Get pre-approved with a KHC-approved lender. A KHC-approved lender can help you access the KHC Hardest Hit Fund DPA of up to $10,000 and the KHC Regular Down Payment Assistance of up to $12,500 simultaneously. Ask about the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program grants as well.
Step 4: Apply for the NKY HOME Consortium Homebuyer Assistance. Submit your application online through the Neighborly Software portal. Funds are reserved once you submit a fully accepted purchase contract. The program is administered by the City of Covington Neighborhood Services Department.
Step 5: Explore additional options. The HONK Lease-to-Own program at (859) 581-4665 offers an alternative path to homeownership in Kenton County, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati builds affordable homes in the Northern Kentucky region.
Step 6: Find a home and close. The HHF-DAP requires the property to be in Kenton County. Your lender will coordinate all DPA funds to be applied at closing. The NKY HOME Consortium loan is forgiven after five years of continuous owner-occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Independence?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay in Independence?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What is the HONK Lease-to-Own program?+−
Free eligibility check
Buying a home in Independence? 14 programs could help.
How soon are you looking to buy?