Onondaga County Homeownership Program
How much assistance
Subsidized purchase price on rehabilitated homes plus up to $4,000 in closing cost assistance (Deferred Loan)
Deferred loan assistance within the City of Syracuse; low-interest loans outside the city.
Eligibility
- Income limits: At or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) for Onondaga County, adjusted for family size
- Purchase price limit: $110,000
- First-time buyer required: Yes — Must not have owned a home in the past 3 years per HUD definition.
- Geographic restrictions: Closing cost assistance available in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Jefferson counties. Subsidized homes located in Onondaga County.
- Homebuyer education required: Yes
How to Apply for Onondaga County Homeownership Program
Step 1: Complete the Homebuyer Education Orientation and Class.
Step 2: Find a mortgage lender and get pre-approved.
Step 3: Work with the Onondaga County Community Development Division to identify available homes or apply for closing cost assistance. Contact the division for current availability.
Notes
The county purchases, rehabilitates, and sells single-family homes at subsidized prices. Homes are typically acquired vacant or dilapidated and renovated using County and State funds. For homes in the City of Syracuse, the purchase price cannot exceed $110,000, and no cash or cash-equivalent assets not being used toward the purchase may exceed $7,500. Solvay Bank is a partner lender for this program.