See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 2, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Rochester, NY (2026)

Population: 207,000 | Median home price: $159,000 | Est. closing costs: $3,000 - $5,000

Rochester is the third-largest city in New York State, located in Monroe County along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, with a population of about 207,000. Recently ranked the number two housing market in the U.S. for 2026, Rochester has a median home price of approximately $159,000, making it one of the most affordable cities in the Northeast. First-time homebuyers can access up to $8,000 through the City of Rochester Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), up to $21,000 from the ESL First Home Grant, up to $30,000 from the SONYMA DPAL PLUS program, and up to $30,000 from the FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program. Employees of major Rochester employers like the University of Rochester, RIT, and Kodak may also qualify for the Employer Assisted Housing Initiative with combined grants up to $20,000. By stacking multiple programs, eligible buyers in Rochester can potentially receive over $50,000 in total assistance, often covering the entire purchase in this affordable market.

City Programs in Rochester

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Rochester Employer Assisted Housing Initiative (EAHI)	Grant	$2,000 to $20,000 (combined employer and city match)	No	View →
City of Rochester Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)	Grant	Up to $8,000	Yes	View →
HOME Rochester Program	Forgivable Loan	Subsidized purchase price on rehabilitated homes	Yes	View →

City of Rochester Employer Assisted Housing Initiative (EAHI)

Type:: Grant
Amount:: $2,000 to $20,000 (combined employer and city match)
First-time only:: No

City of Rochester Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $8,000
First-time only:: Yes

HOME Rochester Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Subsidized purchase price on rehabilitated homes
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Monroe County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Monroe County First-Time Homebuyer Grant Program	Grant	Up to $10,000	Yes	View →

Monroe County First-Time Homebuyer Grant Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $10,000
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 →

FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $30,000
First-time only:: Yes

SONYMA Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL)

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

SONYMA DPAL PLUS

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 →

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
ESL First Home Grant	Grant	Up to $21,000	Yes	View →
Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable mortgage with reduced payments	Yes	View →
NeighborWorks Community Partners DPA Loan	Deferred Loan	Varies based on borrower qualification	Yes	View →

ESL First Home Grant

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $21,000
First-time only:: Yes

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage with reduced payments
First-time only:: Yes

NeighborWorks Community Partners DPA Loan

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Varies based on borrower qualification
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

17 programs available in Rochester. See which ones you qualify for.

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Question 1 of 6

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most City of Rochester programs require income below 120% of Median Family Income. The Monroe County grant requires income below 100% of county median. Contact the City of Rochester Homebuyer Services at (585) 428-6888 or homebuyer@cityofrochester.gov to start.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. A HUD-approved course is required for nearly all programs. The Housing Council at PathStone at (585) 546-3700 offers pre-purchase education and counseling in English and Spanish. NeighborWorks Community Partners also provides homebuyer courses.

Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a SONYMA-approved lender to access the SONYMA DPAL (up to $15,000) or DPAL PLUS (up to $30,000). ESL Federal Credit Union offers the ESL First Home Grant (up to $21,000) and participates in the FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program (up to $30,000). Family First Credit Union also participates in HDP.

Step 4: Apply for City of Rochester assistance. Submit a Homebuyer Services application and complete a virtual meeting with a counselor before making a purchase offer. This qualifies you for the HPAP grant (up to $8,000) and other city programs. If your employer participates, ask about the Employer Assisted Housing Initiative ($2,000-$20,000).

Step 5: Explore the HOME Rochester Program. If you are interested in purchasing a rehabilitated home in the city, request to be placed on the HOME Rochester waiting list. These homes are sold at subsidized prices to qualified first-time buyers.

Step 6: Find a home and finalize your applications. Work with your lender and counseling agency to stack as many programs as possible. Processing times vary, so start the qualification process early.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Rochester buyers can combine several programs for significant assistance. The City of Rochester HPAP provides up to $8,000, the ESL First Home Grant offers up to $21,000, the SONYMA DPAL PLUS provides up to $30,000, and the FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program offers up to $30,000 in grants. The Employer Assisted Housing Initiative provides $2,000 to $20,000 for employees of participating employers. With a median home price of $159,000, stacking these programs can potentially cover the entire purchase price.

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

Most Rochester programs require first-time homebuyer status, generally defined as not having owned a home in the past three years. This includes the HPAP, HOME Rochester, Monroe County grant, and the ESL First Home Grant. However, the Employer Assisted Housing Initiative (EAHI) does not require first-time buyer status, only that you do not currently own a home in the City of Rochester.

What are the income limits for Rochester homebuyer programs?+

Income limits vary by program. The City of Rochester HPAP allows income up to 120% of Median Family Income. The HOME Rochester program primarily serves buyers below 80% AMI but occasionally accepts up to 120% AMI. The Monroe County grant requires income below 100% of county median. The FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program requires income at or below 80% AMI. The Median Family Income for Rochester MSA is approximately $103,900 for a family of four.

What homebuyer education is required?+

Nearly all programs require completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The Housing Council at PathStone at (585) 546-3700 is the primary provider in the Rochester area and offers courses in English and Spanish. NeighborWorks Community Partners also offers homebuyer education. Course completion is required for Monroe County DPA, City of Rochester grants, and the Homebuyer Dream Program.

What is the HOME Rochester program?+

HOME Rochester is a long-running program operated by the Rochester Housing Development Fund Corporation and Greater Rochester Housing Partnership. They acquire vacant homes in the city, fully rehabilitate them, and sell them at subsidized prices to income-qualified first-time homebuyers. Buyers must earn below 80% AMI (occasionally up to 120%), contribute $1,500 to equity, use a participating bank for a conventional fixed-rate mortgage, and maintain residency for 15 years.

Can I get assistance if I work for a major Rochester employer?+

Yes. The Employer Assisted Housing Initiative (EAHI) partners with employers including the University of Rochester, RIT, Kodak, and Rochester City School District. Your employer provides a minimum $1,000 benefit that is matched with City funds, for combined grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000. You must purchase within the City of Rochester, contribute $1,500 of your own funds, and live in the property for at least five years. Contact homebuyer@cityofrochester.gov to confirm your employer participates.