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Get Matched Free →Homebuyer Programs in Dayton, OH (2026)
Dayton is the sixth-largest city in Ohio and the seat of Montgomery County, located in the Miami Valley region of southwestern Ohio. With a median home price around $135,000, Dayton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the state. First-time homebuyers in Dayton can access the City of Dayton Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides up to 10% of the purchase price as a zero-interest deferred loan, as well as the Northwest Dayton Pathway to Homeownership Program through County Corp, which offers down payment assistance plus homebuyer coaching for new construction homes. Beyond local programs, Ohio state programs like the OHFA Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance (3% to 3.5% of the purchase price as a forgivable loan) and the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program (grants of $10,000 to $20,000) can be stacked for even greater savings.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Dayton
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Dayton Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to 10% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| Montgomery County OH Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to 10% of the purchase price, maximum $8,000 for down payment and closing costs | 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 → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with payments never exceeding 30% of monthly income; homes not sold for profit | No | View → |
| Northwest Dayton Pathway to Homeownership Program | Grant | Down payment and closing cost assistance from a variety of local, state, and federally funded sources | Yes | View → |
| 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 → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 10% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 10% of the purchase price, maximum $8,000 for down payment and closing costs
- 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:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with payments never exceeding 30% of monthly income; homes not sold for profit
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Down payment and closing cost assistance from a variety of local, state, and federally funded sources
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- 3%, 4%, or 5% of the purchase price as a grant toward down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Check your eligibility. Most Dayton programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income and first-time homebuyer status. The City of Dayton DPA has a purchase price limit of $105,000 for existing homes and $195,000 for new construction.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. The HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton offers HUD-approved homebuyer education classes. Contact them at 937-853-1600 or visit their office at 130 West Second Street, Suite 1420, Dayton, OH 45402.
- Step 3:
Meet with a Homeownership Advisor. Schedule a one-on-one counseling session at the HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton to review your finances and develop a plan.
- Step 4:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an OHFA-approved lender to explore state programs like Your Choice! DPA or the Welcome Home Program grants. You can find participating lenders at myohiohome.org.
- Step 5:
Find a home within program limits. For the City of Dayton DPA, the home must be within Dayton city limits with a value up to $105,000 (existing) or $195,000 (new construction). For the Northwest Dayton Pathway program, homes are new construction in Northwest Dayton neighborhoods.
- Step 6:
Submit your application. Contact the HomeOwnership Center at 937-853-1600 to apply for the City of Dayton DPA. For the Northwest Dayton Pathway program, contact County Corp at scfhome@wpcu.coop or (937) 782-5747. Funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.