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

Homebuyer Programs in Toledo, OH (2026)

Population: 265,304 | Median home price: $111,000 | Est. closing costs: $2,000 - $3,500

Skyline of Toledo, OH

Toledo is Ohio's fourth-largest city, located in Lucas County along the Maumee River near Lake Erie, with a median home price around $111,000 making it one of the most affordable housing markets in the state. The city's Home at Last program provides up to $12,500 as a grant for first-time homebuyers, with up to $20,000 available in designated revitalization neighborhoods like Englewood, Junction, Old South End, and East Toledo. At the state level, OHFA's Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance adds 3% to 3.5% of the purchase price as a forgivable loan, the Communities First Ohio program offers 3% to 5% as a grant, and the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program provides grants of $10,000 to $20,000. By combining city and state programs, Toledo homebuyers can potentially stack assistance that exceeds the home's purchase price.

City Programs in Toledo

Toledo Home at Last Down Payment Assistance Program
Type:
Grant
Amount:
Up to $12,500 as a grant; up to $20,000 in Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas (Englewood, Junction, Old South End, East Toledo)
First-time only:
Yes

State Programs in Ohio

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

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

Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Homes sold with 0% interest mortgages. Mortgage length ranges from 15-30 years depending on house price and family income.
First-time only:
No
NeighborWorks Toledo Region Homebuyer Programs
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Mortgage lending services designed to reduce barriers to homeownership. Also partners with the Toledo Police Next Door program providing $25,000 in DPA for qualifying Toledo Police Officers.
First-time only:
No

How to Apply

Step 1: Complete homebuyer education first. This is required as the first step for Toledo's Home at Last program. Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo at (419) 691-2900 or NeighborWorks Toledo Region at the same number offer HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling in English and Spanish. The Northwest Ohio Development Agency at (419) 243-3734 also provides HUD-certified workshops.

Step 2: Check your eligibility. For Toledo's Home at Last program, your household income must be at or below 80% of HUD Area Median Income. You must not have owned a home in the past 3 years. OHFA state programs have county-specific income limits — visit myohiohome.org to check Lucas County limits.

Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage through a participating lender. Contact an OHFA-approved lender to explore state DPA options, or a Communities First participating lender for the grant program. Find OHFA lenders at myohiohome.org.

Step 4: Find a home within program limits. For Home at Last, the property must be within Toledo city limits and must be a single-family home or condominium that is decent, safe, and sanitary. A lead paint inspection may be required.

Step 5: Your participating lender submits the Home at Last application on your behalf. You must make a minimum $500 contribution, which includes payment of a required home inspection. Applications are processed in 21 days or less.

Step 6: Close on your home. Home at Last assistance is provided as a grant at closing — no repayment required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Toledo?+
Toledo buyers can stack multiple programs for significant assistance. The city's Home at Last program provides up to $12,500 as a grant (up to $20,000 in designated revitalization neighborhoods). Communities First Ohio adds 3% to 5% of the purchase price as a grant (about $3,330 to $5,550 on a $111,000 home). OHFA's Your Choice! DPA provides 3% to 3.5% (about $3,330 to $3,885). The FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program offers grants of $10,000 to $20,000. Depending on eligibility, total assistance could well exceed the home's purchase price.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+
For most programs, yes. Toledo's Home at Last program requires that you have not owned or purchased a home in the past 3 years. OHFA state programs also generally require first-time buyer status, though veterans and targeted-area buyers are exempt. However, Communities First from The Port has no first-time buyer requirement, and Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity does not strictly require it either.
What is the maximum home price I can pay?+
OHFA purchase price limits vary by county — check ohiohome.org/limits for current Lucas County limits. Toledo's Home at Last program does not impose a separate purchase price cap. Communities First also does not have a purchase price limit but applies to single-family, owner-occupied properties.
What homebuyer education is required?+
Homebuyer education is required as the very first step for Toledo's Home at Last program. NeighborWorks Toledo Region and Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo at (419) 691-2900 offer HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling in English and Spanish. The Northwest Ohio Development Agency at (419) 243-3734 also provides HUD-certified workshops.
Which Toledo neighborhoods qualify for extra assistance?+
Toledo's Home at Last program provides up to $20,000 in Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas (NRSAs), compared to $12,500 in other parts of the city. The four designated NRSAs are Englewood, Junction, Old South End, and East Toledo. Buying in these neighborhoods qualifies you for the higher assistance amount.
Is the Toledo Home at Last assistance a loan or a grant?+
It is a grant — you do not have to repay it. The assistance is provided at closing on your home purchase. You only need to make a minimum $500 contribution, which includes payment of a required home inspection. The program created 35 new first-time homeowners in 2025.

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