See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 4, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Braintree, MA (2026)
Braintree is a suburban town south of Boston in Norfolk County with a population of about 39,000 and a median home price around $700,000. While Braintree does not have its own city-funded down payment assistance program, it is a member of the South Shore HOME Consortium, which provides up to $20,000 in 0% interest forgivable loans for first-time homebuyers purchasing in Braintree. MassHousing Down Payment Assistance offers up to $30,000 at 0% interest for buyers under 60% AMI, and the ONE Mortgage Program provides affordable 30-year fixed-rate financing with just 3% down and no PMI. The MAHA STASH First-Gen Home Program offers grants up to $20,000 for first-generation homebuyers, and South Shore Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes in the area with mortgage payments capped at 30% of income. By combining consortium, state, and nonprofit programs, eligible Braintree buyers could access over $50,000 in combined assistance.
City Programs in Braintree
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Shore HOME Consortium First Time Homebuyer Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $20,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- 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 → |
- 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAHA STASH First-Gen Home Program | Grant | Up to $10,000 grant in Boston; up to $20,000 in other Massachusetts cities | Yes | View → |
| South Shore Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable 30-year mortgage with payments not exceeding 30% of monthly income | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 grant in Boston; up to $20,000 in other Massachusetts cities
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable 30-year mortgage with payments not exceeding 30% of monthly income
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The South Shore HOME Consortium program requires household income at or below 80% AMI with assets not exceeding $75,000. MassHousing DPA income limits for Norfolk County are approximately $205,335 at the 135% AMI tier.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Contact NeighborWorks Housing Solutions at 781-422-4200 ext. 282 to enroll in a HUD-approved first-time homebuyer education course. They are located at 422 Washington Street in Quincy and serve the South Shore region including Braintree.
Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a MassHousing or MHP participating lender to get pre-approved. Ask about the ONE Mortgage Program, which offers a 30-year fixed rate with 3% down and no PMI.
Step 4: Apply for South Shore HOME Consortium assistance. Contact the City of Quincy Department of Planning and Community Development, which administers the consortium program, to apply for up to $20,000 in 0% interest forgivable loan assistance for Braintree purchases.
Step 5: Apply for state down payment assistance. Through your participating lender, apply for MassHousing Down Payment Assistance, which offers up to $30,000 at 0% interest for buyers under 60% AMI, or up to $25,000 at 2-3% interest for higher income tiers.
Step 6: Explore additional assistance. Contact MAHA about the STASH First-Gen Home Program if you are a first-generation homebuyer, which offers grants up to $20,000. Also check with South Shore Habitat for Humanity if your income is between 30-60% AMI.
Step 7: Find a home in Braintree and submit your purchase offer. Your lender and housing counselor will help coordinate the timing of your assistance funds with your closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Braintree?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Is Braintree a Gateway City for MassDREAMS?+−
Can I use Habitat for Humanity to buy a home in Braintree?+−
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