See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 8, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Massillon, OH (2026)

Population: 32,439 | Median home price: $185,000 | Est. closing costs: $3,500 - $5,500

Massillon is a city of about 32,400 residents in Stark County, Ohio, located just west of Canton in the heart of northeast Ohio. With a median home price around $185,000, Massillon is one of the more affordable markets in the region. Buyers here have access to the City of Massillon Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides up to 6-7% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs, plus up to $5,000 for code-related repairs. The Stark County Regional Planning Homebuyer Assistance Program adds up to 7% of the purchase price for first-time buyers countywide. Combined with the OHFA Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance (3% to 3.5% of the purchase price, forgiven after seven years) and the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program (grants of $10,000 to $20,000), Massillon buyers can stack substantial assistance to cover most or all of their upfront costs.

City Programs in Massillon

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Massillon Down Payment Assistance Program	Grant	Up to 6-7% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs, plus up to $5,000 for minimum code-related repairs	Yes	View →

City of Massillon Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to 6-7% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs, plus up to $5,000 for minimum code-related repairs
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Stark County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Stark County Regional Planning Homebuyer Assistance Program	Grant	Up to 7% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs	Yes	View →

Stark County Regional Planning Homebuyer Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to 7% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs
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 East Central Ohio Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable mortgages with payments capped at no more than 30% of monthly income; homes sold at no profit	No	View →

Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgages with payments capped at no more than 30% of monthly income; homes sold at no profit
First-time only:: No

Free eligibility check

16 programs available in Massillon. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. The City of Massillon DPA requires household income at or below 80% of the area median income for Stark County. The Stark County Regional Planning program also has income requirements. Review limits for your household size before applying.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. OHFA requires completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Contact a local HUD-approved counseling agency in the Canton-Massillon area for available courses.

Step 3: Contact the City of Massillon Housing Department. They administer the city's DPA program providing up to 6-7% of the purchase price. Reach them at (330) 830-1717 or housing@massillonohio.gov at 151 Lincoln Way East, Massillon, OH 44646.

Step 4: Contact Stark County Regional Planning. Their Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to 7% of the purchase price for first-time buyers throughout Stark County.

Step 5: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an OHFA-approved lender to access the Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance of 3% to 3.5% of the purchase price. OHFA partners with over 150 lenders statewide.

Step 6: Ask your lender about the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program. This program provides grants of $10,000 to $20,000 through participating member banks and credit unions. You must contribute at least $500 of your own funds.

Step 7: Find a home within Massillon city limits and submit your applications. The property must pass inspection and meet Residential Rehabilitation Standards. Allow extra time for processing multiple assistance sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Massillon buyers have access to some of the strongest local assistance in Ohio. The City of Massillon DPA provides up to 6-7% of the purchase price plus up to $5,000 for repairs. The Stark County Regional Planning program adds up to 7% of the purchase price. The OHFA Your Choice! program provides 3% to 3.5% as a forgivable loan, and the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program offers grants of $10,000 to $20,000. On a $185,000 home, combining these programs could cover your entire down payment and closing costs.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get assistance in Massillon?+

The City of Massillon DPA program requires first-time buyer status. The Stark County Regional Planning program is also targeted at first-time buyers. The OHFA Your Choice! program defines first-time buyers as those who have not owned a home in the past three years. The FHLB Welcome Home Program is open to all income-qualifying buyers.

What is the maximum home price I can pay using these programs?+

OHFA sets purchase price limits by county. For Stark County, check current limits on myohiohome.org. The City of Massillon and Stark County programs do not publish strict purchase price caps but have income requirements that effectively limit purchasing power.

What homebuyer education is required?+

OHFA requires completion of a free homebuyer education course through any HUD-approved counseling agency in Ohio. Several agencies serve the Canton-Massillon area. The FHLB Welcome Home Program also requires first-time buyers to complete homeownership counseling.

What happens if the home needs repairs?+

The City of Massillon DPA program includes up to $5,000 for minimum code-related repairs post-purchase. The property must pass inspection and meet Residential Rehabilitation Standards before closing. This is a unique benefit that helps buyers address essential repairs as part of the purchase process.