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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Boston, MA (2026)
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.
Top Homebuyer 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 → |
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $75,000 in enhanced down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- 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:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $40,000 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with monthly housing costs capped at 30% of gross monthly income
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 grant in Boston; up to $20,000 in other Massachusetts cities
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- 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
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.