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DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized is a grant for homebuyers in Statewide, Massachusetts.

Last verified

The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: FTHB waived in federally targeted tracts and for qualifying veterans (IRS Section 143(d)(2)(B)).
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: 640 minimum FICO across all eligible MassHousing first-mortgage products.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through MassHousing-approved homebuyer education providers (CHAPA-network counseling agencies, HUD-approved counselors). 8-hour pre-purchase course required.
  • Residency: Property in MA; primary residence. Statewide.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying non-permanent resident alien.
  • First-time homebuyer required (waived in federally targeted census tracts and for qualifying veterans). Owner-occupied primary residence (1-4 units; condo project-approved). 640 minimum FICO. 45% maximum DTI. Higher-income tier - household income approximately $129,870 - $220,725 (up to 135% AMI Boston/Gateway, larger household sizes). Must use a MassHousing-approved participating lender. Homebuyer education required.
  • A home in Massachusetts

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 135% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

Income limit

135% of the area median income where the home is

HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.

Where it applies

Massachusetts’s homes

  • 51.1% single-family
  • 5.9% townhouse
  • 20% 2–4 units
  • 22.2% 5+ units
  • 0.8% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$562,100

Massachusetts median home value

67.4%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year.

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through MassHousing-approved homebuyer education providers (CHAPA-network counseling agencies, HUD-approved counselors). 8-hour pre-purchase course required..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Reserved through MassHousing eMasshousing lender portal at rate lock., and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized is a grant for homebuyers in Statewide, Massachusetts. MassHousing 15-year fully amortizing 3% second mortgage DPA up to $25,000. Higher-income tier ($129,870 - $220,725, up to 135% AMI Boston/Gateway). Pairs with MassHousing first mortgage. 640 FICO. Statewide. MassHousing's DPA 3% 15-Year Amortized Second Mortgage provides up to $25,000 in down payment and closing-cost assistance for first-time homebuyers using a MassHousing first mortgage. Structured as a 15-year fully amortizing second mortgage at a fixed 3.000% interest rate (3.000% APR), with monthly principal and interest payments alongside the first mortgage. On a $25,000 DPA, the monthly P&I payment is $172.62 for 180 months. This is the HIGHER-INCOME tier - household income approximately $129,870 - $220,725 (100-135% AMI larger households / Boston-Gateway high-cost tier). Pairs with MassHousing 30-year fixed-rate first mortgages (FHA, Conventional 97/95, HFA Advantage, VA, USDA via MassHousing correspondents). 640 minimum FICO. First-time homebuyer required. Statewide eligibility - all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. Funding comes from State and Bond.

Do you have to pay it back?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized is structured as a grant, so it is not repaid. Repayment is triggered by 15-year fully amortizing second mortgage at 3.000% APR. Monthly principal and interest payments due alongside first mortgage. $25,000 DPA = $172.62/month for 180 months. Balance also accelerates on sale, refinance of first, transfer of title, payoff, or non-owner-occupancy. The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: FTHB waived in federally targeted tracts and for qualifying veterans (IRS Section 143(d)(2)(B)). On credit, the program states: 640 minimum FICO across all eligible MassHousing first-mortgage products. A homebuyer education course is required, through MassHousing-approved homebuyer education providers (CHAPA-network counseling agencies, HUD-approved counselors). 8-hour pre-purchase course required. Residency requirement: Property in MA; primary residence. Statewide. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying non-permanent resident alien. First-time homebuyer required (waived in federally targeted census tracts and for qualifying veterans). Owner-occupied primary residence (1-4 units; condo project-approved). 640 minimum FICO. 45% maximum DTI. Higher-income tier - household income approximately $129,870 - $220,725 (up to 135% AMI Boston/Gateway, larger household sizes). Must use a MassHousing-approved participating lender. Homebuyer education required.

What are the income limits?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized limits household income to 135% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. MassHousing 2026 higher-income tier: $129,870 (lower bound) to $220,725 (upper bound at 135% AMI 4+ person Boston/Gateway high-cost). Verify by household size and county on MassHousing income-limits page. Borrowers in Boston + 26 Gateway Cities (Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, Worcester) qualify up to 135% AMI. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized caps the purchase price as follows: MassHousing 2026 maximum purchase price approximately $838,717 in most areas (1-unit), higher in Boston/Cambridge and 2-4 unit. Verify on MassHousing limits page. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, 2-4 unit owner-occupied, condo (project-approved), townhouse, PUD. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, and surviving spouses among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized serves homebuyers purchasing in Statewide, Massachusetts. The program targets specific areas: Federally targeted census tracts plus Boston and 26 Gateway Cities qualify for higher 135% AMI income limits.

How do you apply?

Applications for DPA 3% 15 Year Amortized go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Reserved through MassHousing eMasshousing lender portal at rate lock. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Also for Massachusetts homebuyers

Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.

All 68 programs for Massachusetts

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.