See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 21, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Columbus, OH (2026)

Population: 933,263 | Median home price: $286,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,500 - $8,500

Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and the state capital, with a fast-growing population and a median home price around $286,000. First-time buyers in Columbus can access the city's American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI), which provides up to $14,999 in forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance. At the state level, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency offers 3% to 3.5% of the purchase price in forgivable down payment assistance through its Your Choice! program, plus specialized programs like Grants for Grads and Ohio Heroes. The FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program provides grants of $10,000 to $20,000 for income-eligible buyers. By combining city and state programs, Columbus homebuyers can potentially stack over $25,000 in assistance toward their home purchase.

City Programs in Columbus

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Columbus American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI)	Forgivable Loan	Up to $14,999 or up to 6% of the purchase price, whichever is lower	Yes	View →

Columbus American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI)

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $14,999 or up to 6% of the purchase price, whichever is lower
First-time only:: Yes

State Programs in Ohio

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Communities First Ohio Down Payment Assistance (The Port)	Grant	3%, 4%, or 5% of the purchase price as a grant toward down payment and closing costs	No	View →
FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program	Grant	Grants of $10,000 to $20,000; up to $25,000 for veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses	Yes	View →
OHFA Grants for Grads	Forgivable Loan	3% for Conventional loans or 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price, plus a discounted mortgage interest rate	Yes	View →
OHFA Mortgage Tax Credit	Tax Credit	Federal tax credit of 40% of annual mortgage interest paid, up to $2,000 per year (with OHFA loan). 15-20% with other lenders.	Yes	View →
OHFA Ohio Heroes	Forgivable Loan	3% for Conventional loans or 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price, plus a discounted mortgage interest rate	Yes	View →
OHFA Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance	Forgivable Loan	3% for Conventional loans or 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price	Yes	View →

Communities First Ohio Down Payment Assistance (The Port)

Type:: Grant
Amount:: 3%, 4%, or 5% of the purchase price as a grant toward down payment and closing costs
First-time only:: No

FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Grants of $10,000 to $20,000; up to $25,000 for veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses
First-time only:: Yes

OHFA Grants for Grads

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: 3% for Conventional loans or 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price, plus a discounted mortgage interest rate
First-time only:: Yes

OHFA Mortgage Tax Credit

Type:: Tax Credit
Amount:: Federal tax credit of 40% of annual mortgage interest paid, up to $2,000 per year (with OHFA loan). 15-20% with other lenders.
First-time only:: Yes

OHFA Ohio Heroes

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: 3% for Conventional loans or 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price, plus a discounted mortgage interest rate
First-time only:: Yes

OHFA Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: 3% for Conventional loans or 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price
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
Habitat for Humanity MidOhio Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable mortgage with no-interest or low-interest financing. Home purchase price based on construction costs, significantly below market value.	No	View →

Habitat for Humanity MidOhio Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage with no-interest or low-interest financing. Home purchase price based on construction costs, significantly below market value.
First-time only:: No

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. For the Columbus ADDI program, your household income must be at or below 120% of Area Median Income. OHFA programs have county-specific income limits — visit myohiohome.org to check Franklin County limits.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Columbus Urban League offers HUD-approved Keys to Homeownership courses held virtually on select Saturdays. Homeport also provides HUD-certified homebuyer education and counseling. Both are free or low-cost.

Step 3: Contact the City of Columbus Housing Division at (614) 645-9643 to learn about current ADDI funding availability and begin your application.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact an OHFA-approved lender to explore state DPA options alongside your first mortgage. Find participating lenders at myohiohome.org.

Step 5: Find a home within program limits. For ADDI, the property must be a single-family home or condo within Columbus City School District boundaries. OHFA purchase price limits vary by county.

Step 6: Submit your applications. Work with your lender and the Columbus Housing Division to submit all necessary paperwork. ADDI funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so act quickly once pre-approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Columbus buyers can potentially combine multiple programs. The city's ADDI program offers up to $14,999 in forgivable assistance. OHFA's Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance adds 3% to 3.5% of the purchase price (about $8,580 to $10,010 on a $286,000 home). The FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program provides grants of $10,000 to $20,000. By stacking eligible programs, you could receive over $25,000 in total assistance.

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

For most programs, yes. The Columbus ADDI program, OHFA programs, and FHLB Welcome Home all generally require first-time buyer status, defined as not having owned a home in the past 3 years. However, veterans and buyers purchasing in targeted census tracts are often exempt from this requirement under OHFA programs. Habitat for Humanity MidOhio does not strictly require first-time buyer status.

What is the maximum home price I can pay?+

OHFA purchase price limits vary by county and are updated periodically — check ohiohome.org/limits for current Franklin County limits. The Columbus ADDI program caps assistance at 6% of the purchase price or $14,999, whichever is lower, but does not impose a separate purchase price cap beyond what your mortgage allows.

What homebuyer education is required?+

Most programs require completion of HUD-approved homebuyer education. In Columbus, the Columbus Urban League offers the Keys to Homeownership course on select Saturdays. Homeport provides one-on-one housing counseling and group education classes. Homes on the Hill CDC is another HUD-approved counseling agency serving Columbus residents.

What special programs are available for veterans or public servants in Columbus?+

OHFA Ohio Heroes provides a discounted mortgage rate plus 3% to 3.5% DPA for veterans, active-duty military, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, and teachers. The FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program offers up to $25,000 in grants for veterans and military homebuyers, compared to the standard $20,000 maximum.

Are there programs for recent college graduates?+

Yes. OHFA Grants for Grads offers a discounted mortgage rate plus 3% to 3.5% DPA that is forgiven after just 5 years (compared to 7 years for standard OHFA DPA). You must have graduated with an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree within the past 48 months from an accredited institution.

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