See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 2, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Union, NY (2026)
Union is the largest town in Broome County, New York, encompassing the villages of Endicott and Johnson City in the Southern Tier region near Binghamton. With a population of approximately 54,000 and a median home price around $200,000, Union offers affordable homeownership opportunities in a community with deep roots in manufacturing and innovation. Buyers in Union can access the Metro Interfaith HOME Purchase Assistance Program offering forgivable loans up to $30,000, the Greater Opportunities First-Time Homebuyer Program providing grants for down payment and closing costs, and the Broome County Land Bank Affordable Homes Program selling rehabilitated properties at affordable prices. At the state level, the FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program provides grants up to $30,000 and SONYMA programs offer forgivable loans up to $30,000. By combining eligible programs, qualified buyers in Union could access substantial financial assistance toward their home purchase.
County Programs in Broome County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broome County Land Bank Affordable Homes Program | Grant | Rehabilitated homes sold at affordable prices to low-to-moderate income buyers | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Rehabilitated homes sold at affordable prices to low-to-moderate income buyers
- First-time only:
- No
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broome County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with no-profit pricing and zero-interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
| Greater Opportunities First-Time Homebuyer Program | Grant | Grants available for down payment, closing costs, and rehabilitation (amounts vary by funding availability) | Yes | View → |
| Metro Interfaith HOME Purchase Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $30,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with no-profit pricing and zero-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Grants available for down payment, closing costs, and rehabilitation (amounts vary by funding availability)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most programs serving Union require first-time buyer status and household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Broome County. The Metro Interfaith program requires HUD income eligibility, while the Broome County Habitat for Humanity program requires income between 40% and 60% of the median family income.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Binghamton Homeownership Academy offers free HUD-approved homebuyer education classes and one-on-one counseling. Metro Interfaith Housing Counseling also provides required pre-purchase education. Contact either organization at 607-723-0582 to register.
Step 3: Contact a housing counselor. Greater Opportunities provides one-on-one counseling to help develop a homeownership plan, review your finances, and identify grants you qualify for. Contact them at 607-334-7114. Metro Interfaith also offers free HUD-approved counseling at 21 New Street, Binghamton, NY.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a SONYMA-approved lender or a local participating institution such as TEG Federal Credit Union, Visions Federal Credit Union, or Tioga State Bank to get pre-approved and explore the FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program grants up to $30,000.
Step 5: Find a home within program guidelines. Browse available properties in Union and Broome County. The Metro Interfaith program has a purchase price cap of $120,000. Check with the Broome County Land Bank for currently available rehabilitated homes at affordable prices.
Step 6: Submit your program applications. Work with your housing counselor and lender to apply for all programs you qualify for. FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early when funding rounds open.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Union, NY?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay using these programs?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Are there programs for buying affordable rehabilitated homes in Union?+−
What are the income limits for programs in Union?+−
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