See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 3, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Boston, MA (2026)

Population: 654,000 | Median home price: $857,000 | Est. closing costs: $17,000 - $25,500

Boston is the capital and most populous city in Massachusetts, with a median home price of approximately $857,000. Despite the high cost of housing, Boston buyers have access to some of the strongest homebuyer assistance in the country. The city's First-Time Homebuyer Program offers up to $50,000 in down payment assistance as a 0% deferred loan, while the ONE+Boston program provides enhanced mortgage rate discounts and up to $75,000 in total assistance. At the state level, MassHousing offers up to $30,000 in down payment assistance and the ONE Mortgage program provides 30-year fixed-rate loans with just 3% down and no PMI. First-generation homebuyers can access an additional $40,000 grant through FHLBank Boston's Lift Up Homeownership program and $10,000 through the MAHA STASH program. By stacking city, state, and nonprofit programs, eligible Boston buyers could potentially combine well over $100,000 in assistance toward their purchase.

City Programs in Boston

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
BHA First Home Program	Grant	Up to $75,000 in enhanced down payment assistance	Yes	View →
Boston First-Time Homebuyer Program	Deferred Loan	Up to $50,000 (income below 100% AMI) or up to $35,000 (income 101-135% AMI)	Yes	View →
ONE+Boston Homebuyer Program	Grant	Enhanced interest rate discounts on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage plus down payment and closing cost assistance; total assistance may not exceed $75,000	Yes	View →

BHA First Home Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $75,000 in enhanced down payment assistance
First-time only:: Yes

Boston First-Time Homebuyer Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $50,000 (income below 100% AMI) or up to $35,000 (income 101-135% AMI)
First-time only:: Yes

ONE+Boston Homebuyer Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Enhanced interest rate discounts on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage plus down payment and closing cost assistance; total assistance may not exceed $75,000
First-time only:: Yes

State Programs in Massachusetts

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
MassDREAMS Down Payment Assistance Grant	Grant	Up to $50,000 for buyers earning up to 100% AMI; up to $35,000 for buyers earning 100-135% AMI	Yes	View →
MassHousing Down Payment Assistance	Deferred Loan	Up to $30,000 (below 60% AMI at 0% deferred); up to $25,000 (60-80% AMI at 2%); up to $25,000 (80-135% AMI at 3%)	Yes	View →
ONE Mortgage Program	Zero-Interest Loan	30-year fixed-rate mortgage with 3% down payment and no PMI; qualified borrowers below 80% AMI receive an additional subsidy to lower monthly payments	Yes	View →

MassDREAMS Down Payment Assistance Grant

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $50,000 for buyers earning up to 100% AMI; up to $35,000 for buyers earning 100-135% AMI
First-time only:: Yes

MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $30,000 (below 60% AMI at 0% deferred); up to $25,000 (60-80% AMI at 2%); up to $25,000 (80-135% AMI at 3%)
First-time only:: Yes

ONE Mortgage Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with 3% down payment and no PMI; qualified borrowers below 80% AMI receive an additional subsidy to lower monthly payments
First-time only:: Yes

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 →

FHA Loans

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

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

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

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

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

HUD $100 Down Program

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

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

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
FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership	Grant	Up to $40,000 grant	Yes	View →
Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable mortgage with monthly housing costs capped at 30% of gross monthly income	No	View →
MAHA STASH First-Gen Home Program	Grant	Up to $10,000 grant in Boston; up to $20,000 in other Massachusetts cities	Yes	View →

FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $40,000 grant
First-time only:: Yes

Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage with monthly housing costs capped at 30% of gross monthly income
First-time only:: No

MAHA STASH First-Gen Home Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $10,000 grant in Boston; up to $20,000 in other Massachusetts cities
First-time only:: Yes

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16 programs available in Boston. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Boston programs require household income at or below 100% of Area Median Income, though some extend to 135% AMI. First-generation homebuyer programs like STASH and Lift Up Homeownership have their own eligibility criteria.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Boston Home Center offers the required Homebuyer 101 class, which is mandatory for most city and state programs. Register through the Boston Home Center at 617-635-4663.

Step 3: Contact a housing counselor. ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) and the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) offer free housing counseling to help you navigate available programs and prepare your finances.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a MassHousing-approved lender or a ONE Mortgage participating lender. Over 40 lenders participate in the ONE Mortgage program statewide. Contact MHP at 1-800-752-7131 for a lender list.

Step 5: Find a home within the City of Boston. Most Boston-specific programs require you to purchase within city limits and occupy the home as your primary residence.

Step 6: Apply for down payment assistance. Once you have a signed purchase and sale agreement, apply for DPA through the Boston Home Center and your lender. Multiple programs can often be layered together for maximum benefit.

Step 7: Close on your home. Your lender and the Boston Home Center will coordinate the closing process, including disbursement of all assistance funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Boston?+

Boston buyers can potentially stack significant assistance. The city's First-Time Homebuyer Program offers up to $50,000, MassHousing DPA provides up to $30,000, the ONE+Boston program offers up to $75,000 in total assistance including rate discounts, the FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership grant provides up to $40,000 for first-generation buyers, and the MAHA STASH program adds up to $10,000 for first-generation buyers. Not all programs can be combined, so work with a housing counselor to find the best combination for your situation.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+

Most Boston programs require you to be a first-time homebuyer, defined as someone who has not owned a home in the past 3 years. The Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston program does not strictly require first-time buyer status. The MAHA STASH and FHLBank Boston Lift Up programs specifically target first-generation homebuyers, meaning neither you nor your parents have ever owned a home in the US.

What is the maximum home price I can pay?+

MassHousing sets a purchase price limit of approximately $838,717 in most areas, with higher limits in the Boston metro area for loans paired with their DPA. The ONE Mortgage and ONE+Boston programs have their own property value guidelines. Contact a participating lender for the most current limits in Boston.

What homebuyer education is required?+

The Boston Home Center offers the Homebuyer 101 class, which is required for most city and state programs. You can register by calling 617-635-4663. MAHA also offers homebuyer education, and the STASH program includes 8 hours of financial literacy education via Zoom. All MassHousing and ONE Mortgage borrowers must complete an approved homebuyer education course.

What special programs exist for Boston Housing Authority residents?+

The BHA First Home Program provides up to $75,000 in enhanced down payment assistance for current BHA residents purchasing a home within Boston. This program is in its final year, ending in late 2026, so eligible BHA tenants should apply soon. You must be in good standing with BHA and meet income, savings, credit, and employment requirements.

What is a first-generation homebuyer and which programs target them?+

A first-generation homebuyer is someone whose parents and spouse (including spouse's parents) have never owned a home in the US, or lost a home to foreclosure. Two Boston-area programs specifically serve first-generation buyers: the MAHA STASH First-Gen Home Program (up to $10,000 grant) and the FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership program (up to $40,000 grant, forgivable after 5 years).

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