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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Springfield, MA (2026)
Springfield is the largest city in Western Massachusetts and one of the state's designated Gateway Cities, with a median home price of approximately $300,000 — well below the state average. The city's Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program is one of the most generous municipal programs in the state, offering up to $35,000 as a 0% interest forgivable loan for income-qualified first-time buyers. At the state level, MassHousing provides up to $30,000 in down payment assistance as a deferred loan, and the ONE Mortgage program offers 30-year fixed-rate loans with just 3% down and no PMI. First-generation homebuyers can access an additional $40,000 through the FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership grant and $20,000 through the MAHA STASH program. Springfield's affordable prices combined with strong assistance programs make it one of the most accessible cities for first-time buyers in Massachusetts.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Springfield
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $7,500 - $35,000 | 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 → |
| Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with low interest rate; homes sold at no profit | 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500 - $35,000
- 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 low interest rate; homes sold at no profit
- 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. The Springfield city DPA requires income at or below 100% AMI, with specific limits set annually by HUD. As a Gateway City, Springfield buyers also qualify for MassHousing DPA at income levels up to 135% AMI.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. You must complete a HUD-certified or CHAPA-certified 8-hour homebuyer education program. Springfield Partners for Community Action offers free HUD-certified housing counseling and education classes for Western Massachusetts residents. Way Finders also offers certified homebuyer education and can be reached at (413) 233-1925 or homeownership@wayfinders.org.
- Step 3:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a MassHousing-approved lender or a ONE Mortgage participating lender. Greater Springfield Credit Union and Holyoke Credit Union are local options that participate in state programs. Contact MHP at 1-800-752-7131 for a full lender list.
- Step 4:
Find a home in Springfield. The city DPA program has purchase price limits that vary by property type, ranging from $271,000 for existing single-unit homes to $617,000 for new construction four-unit properties.
- Step 5:
Apply for down payment assistance. Contact the City of Springfield Office of Housing at 413-787-6500 or email Patricia Montana at pmontana@springfieldcityhall.com. You must contribute a minimum of 1% of your own funds toward the purchase.
- Step 6:
Close on your home. Your lender and the city will coordinate disbursement of all assistance funds at closing. The city's forgivable loan has no monthly payments and is gradually forgiven over 10 years of owner occupancy.