See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 1, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Buffalo, NY (2026)
Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York State, located in Erie County on the eastern shore of Lake Erie. With a median home price around $215,000, it is one of the most affordable housing markets in the state, making homeownership achievable for many buyers especially when combined with available assistance programs. The City of Buffalo Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance program provides up to $15,000 as a zero-interest forgivable loan. Home HeadQuarters offers up to $9,000 in closing cost assistance for their mortgage customers. NeighborWorks Community Partners Buffalo provides $4,000 to $7,500 in down payment and closing cost loans for Erie County buyers. At the state level, SONYMA's Down Payment Assistance Loan offers up to $15,000 as a forgivable loan, and the FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program provides grants up to $30,000. By combining city and state programs, Buffalo homebuyers can potentially cover their entire down payment and closing costs.
City Programs in Buffalo
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Buffalo Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in New York
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program | Grant | Up to $30,000 | Yes | View → |
| SONYMA Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) | Forgivable Loan | Greater of $3,000 or 3% of the purchase price, capped at $15,000 (minimum $1,000); cannot exceed actual down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| SONYMA DPAL PLUS | Forgivable Loan | Up to $30,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Greater of $3,000 or 3% of the purchase price, capped at $15,000 (minimum $1,000); cannot exceed actual down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity Buffalo Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with subsidized 30-year mortgage | No | View → |
| Home HeadQuarters Buffalo Closing Cost Assistance | Grant | Up to $9,000 ($5,000 deferred loan/grant plus $4,000 low-interest loan) | Yes | View → |
| Homeownership First Program (Erie County) | Grant | Up to $5,000 for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| National Faith Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | $5,000 to $10,000 forgivable loan (amount varies by location) | No | View → |
| NeighborWorks Community Partners Buffalo DPA Loan | Repayable Loan | $4,000 to $7,500 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with subsidized 30-year mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $9,000 ($5,000 deferred loan/grant plus $4,000 low-interest loan)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $5,000 for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- $5,000 to $10,000 forgivable loan (amount varies by location)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- $4,000 to $7,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The City of Buffalo DPA requires household income at or below 80% of HUD median income guidelines. Most state programs also have income limits. Review the specific requirements for each program you plan to apply for.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. All major programs require a HUD-certified course. Belmont Housing Resources for WNY offers free homebuyer education workshops and is a HUD-certified counseling agency. The Buffalo Urban League also provides homeownership education as the oldest HUD-approved counseling agency in Western New York.
Step 3: Contact the City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency. BURA administers the city's Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance program. Call 716-851-2872 for information on eligibility and the application process.
Step 4: Explore nonprofit lender options. Home HeadQuarters offers a mortgage product with only 2% down plus up to $9,000 in closing cost assistance. Contact them at homehq.org/buffalo. NeighborWorks Community Partners Buffalo provides $4,000 to $7,500 in DPA loans and can be reached at 716-217-2468.
Step 5: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a SONYMA-approved lender to access state-level programs, or an FHLBNY member institution like Family First Federal Credit Union or AmeriCU Credit Union to apply for the Homebuyer Dream Program grant.
Step 6: Find a home within the City of Buffalo. The city DPA program requires the property to be a single-family home within the City of Buffalo limits. Submit your applications and allow 30 to 60 days for processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Buffalo?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can buy with assistance?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What makes Buffalo a good market for first-time homebuyers?+−
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