See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Parma, OH (2026)

Population: 80,131 | Median home price: $238,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,000 - $7,000

Parma is the seventh-largest city in Ohio, located in Cuyahoga County just south of Cleveland in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area. With a median home price around $238,000, Parma offers an affordable alternative to nearby Cleveland while still providing access to the same regional programs. Homebuyers in Parma can take advantage of the City of Parma Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides up to 10% of the purchase price (capped at $20,900) as a deferred loan, as well as the Cuyahoga County DPA offering the same terms. 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 with local assistance for substantial savings.

City Programs in Parma

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Parma Down Payment Assistance Program	Deferred Loan	Up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,900	No	View →

City of Parma Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,900
First-time only:: No

County Programs in Cuyahoga County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program	Deferred Loan	Up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,900	No	View →

Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,900
First-time only:: No

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
Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Homes sold at no profit with 0% interest mortgages. Minimal down payment and closing costs required.	No	View →

Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Homes sold at no profit with 0% interest mortgages. Minimal down payment and closing costs required.
First-time only:: No

Free eligibility check

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

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housebuyerguides

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Parma programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income and that you have not owned a home in the past 3 years.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. CHN Housing Partners offers free homebuyer education classes required for the Parma and Cuyahoga County DPA programs. Contact them through Believe Mortgage at believemortgage.org.

Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Believe Mortgage (the lending arm of CHN Housing Partners) administers the local DPA programs. You can also work with an OHFA-approved lender for state programs. Find participating lenders at myohiohome.org.

Step 4: Apply for down payment assistance. Apply through Believe Mortgage for the City of Parma DPA (up to 10% of purchase price, capped at $20,900). You may also qualify for the Cuyahoga County DPA with the same terms.

Step 5: Find a home within Parma city limits. The home must be within Parma for the city program, or within one of 51 eligible Cuyahoga County communities for the county program.

Step 6: Close on your home. Your DPA funds will be applied as a deferred, subordinated loan at closing. The loan is repayable only upon sale, transfer, or refinance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Parma buyers can access multiple layers of assistance. The City of Parma DPA offers up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,900, as a deferred loan. The OHFA Your Choice! program adds 3% to 3.5% of the purchase price as a forgivable loan. The FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program provides grants of $10,000 to $20,000 (up to $25,000 for veterans). By combining programs, eligible buyers could receive over $30,000 in total assistance.

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

The City of Parma and Cuyahoga County DPA programs do not strictly require first-time buyer status, but you must not have owned a home in the past 3 years. OHFA state programs generally require first-time buyer status with the same 3-year definition. The FHLB Welcome Home Program is open to all income-eligible buyers.

What is the maximum home price I can purchase with assistance in Parma?+

The City of Parma and Cuyahoga County DPA programs cap assistance at $20,900 but do not publish a specific purchase price limit. OHFA programs have county-specific purchase price limits that vary. Contact Believe Mortgage at believemortgage.org for current limits.

What homebuyer education is required?+

The Parma and Cuyahoga County DPA programs require completion of a homebuyer education class. CHN Housing Partners offers free classes. You can also contact HUD-approved agencies like ESOP at (216) 361-0718 or Community Housing Solutions at (216) 231-5815 for counseling in the Cuyahoga County area.

Can I combine the City of Parma and Cuyahoga County DPA programs?+

Both programs offer up to 10% of the purchase price capped at $20,900. Whether they can be stacked depends on program rules at the time of application. Contact Believe Mortgage to discuss combining local programs with state programs like OHFA Your Choice! for maximum assistance.