See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 8, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Stow, OH (2026)
Stow is a suburban city of about 34,000 residents in Summit County, Ohio, located just north of Akron along the Cuyahoga River. With a median home price around $250,000, Stow offers solid value in the Akron metro area. Buyers here can access the Summit County First Home First Loan program, which provides a 3-to-1 down payment match of up to $12,000 as a deferred, zero-interest loan. The Habitat for Humanity of Summit County also offers affordable homeownership opportunities with zero-interest mortgages and payments based on household income. 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), Stow buyers can stack significant assistance to make homeownership more affordable.
County Programs in Summit County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to $12,000 as a 3-to-1 down payment match | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $12,000 as a 3-to-1 down payment match
- 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 → |
- 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of Summit County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Homes sold with 0% interest mortgages. Affordable monthly payments based on household income. | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Homes sold with 0% interest mortgages. Affordable monthly payments based on household income.
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Summit County First Home First Loan program is designed for first-time, low- to middle-income homebuyers in Summit County. Stow residents are eligible (unlike Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls, which are excluded because they have their own programs). Review income limits for your household size.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. OHFA requires completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Multiple agencies in the Akron area offer these courses, and OHFA partners with HUD-approved counseling agencies statewide.
Step 3: Contact Summit County about the First Home First Loan program. This program matches your down payment 3-to-1, up to $12,000. If you put down $4,000, the county matches with up to $12,000. Visit the Summit County Executive Office website or call their development office for application details.
Step 4: 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 across the state.
Step 5: 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 6: Find a home in Stow within program limits. Confirm the property meets OHFA purchase price limits for Summit County and First Home First Loan program requirements.
Step 7: Submit your applications and close. Coordinate with your lender and Summit County to layer multiple assistance programs. Allow extra processing time when combining sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Stow?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get assistance in Stow?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay using these programs?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Is Stow eligible for the Summit County First Home First Loan program?+−
How does the First Home First Loan matching work?+−
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