Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Brookhaven, New York.
The program asks for
- First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Must not have owned any residential real estate in the previous 3 years (HUD HOME first-time homebuyer definition).
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- On credit: Minimum 580 FICO; buyer must qualify for a first mortgage with adequate financial resources
- A completed homebuyer education course, through Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) - HUD-approved housing counseling agency; HUD-approved homebuyer education / pre-purchase counseling required prior to closing.
- Residency: Property must be located within the Town of Brookhaven (Suffolk County), NY, and be the buyer's primary residence for the 10-15-year affordability period; cannot be used as rental property.
- Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen permitted by underlying first-mortgage product and HUD HOME rules
- Property must be an eligible new or existing single-family home located within the Town of Brookhaven (Suffolk County). Buyer must be a first-time homebuyer (no ownership of residential real estate in previous 3 years). Maximum eligible purchase price $551,000 (HUD HOME 95% rule for Suffolk). Household income limits: 1-person approximately $92,350 up to 8-person $174,150 (80% HUD AMI for Nassau-Suffolk MSA, varies by household size). Minimum 580 FICO; buyer must qualify for a first mortgage with adequate financial resources. Buyer must occupy the home as primary residence for 10 years (HUD HOME affordability period; some grant tiers extend to 15 years). Annual monitoring affidavit mailed to grant recipient; failure to comply triggers full repayment. Buyer cannot use property as rental or for any non-owner-occupied purpose. Funds are available first-come, first-served until exhausted. Additional layered funding from New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC) may be available for qualified buyers.
- A home inside Brookhaven city limits
It doesn’t cover
- Manufactured homes
- Purchases above the $551,000 price cap
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Brookhaven
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
80% of Suffolk County’s area median income
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
Brookhaven’s homesBrookhaven’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 96.5% single-familysingle-family
- 0% townhousetownhouse
- 0% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 3.5% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 0% mobile & othermobile home & other
A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
$692,800
Brookhaven median home value
73.5%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Brookhaven
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program, through Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) - HUD-approved housing counseling agency; HUD-approved homebuyer education / pre-purchase counseling required prior to closing..
Contact the administering agency to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served through the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) until funding is exhausted. Applicants apply via LIHP's online portal at lihp.tfaforms.net/5103385 after completing intake and homebuyer education., and are subject to availability.
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 Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program?
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Brookhaven, New York. The Town of Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program provides eligible first-time homebuyers with up to $50,000 in zero-interest deferred-payment down payment and closing-cost assistance toward the purchase of a new or existing single-family home within the Town of Brookhaven (Suffolk County). Administered by the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) under contract with the Town of Brookhaven, the program is funded through HUD HOME federal funds passed through the Town. Grant recipients must occupy the home as principal residence for a minimum of 10 years (15 years for higher tiers); during the affordability period, the loan is forgiven so long as compliance is maintained. Annual monitoring affidavits are mailed to recipients. Funds are first-come, first-served until exhausted. Maximum purchase price $551,000 reflects the Long Island market. Up to $50,000 in zero-interest deferred-payment HOME down payment / closing-cost assistance toward the purchase of an eligible new or existing single-family home in the Town of Brookhaven. Funds are essentially a deferred-payment, non-interest-bearing forgivable loan that is forgiven if the buyer remains in the home as principal residence for the 10-15 year affordability period. Maximum eligible purchase price $551,000 (reflective of Suffolk County / Long Island market). Funding comes from HOME, Federal, and Local Government.
Do you have to pay it back?
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program is forgiven after 10 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Zero-interest deferred-payment forgivable loan and no payments due unless the home is sold, transferred, refinanced with cash-out, or no longer occupied as primary residence during the 10-15-year affordability period - in which case the unforgiven balance is repaid in full to the Town of Brookhaven. After the affordability period, no further obligation. The assistance is recorded in 2 position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Must not have owned any residential real estate in the previous 3 years (HUD HOME first-time homebuyer definition). On credit, the program states: Minimum 580 FICO; buyer must qualify for a first mortgage with adequate financial resources. A homebuyer education course is required, through Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) - HUD-approved housing counseling agency; HUD-approved homebuyer education / pre-purchase counseling required prior to closing. Residency requirement: Property must be located within the Town of Brookhaven (Suffolk County), NY, and be the buyer's primary residence for the 10-15-year affordability period; cannot be used as rental property. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen permitted by underlying first-mortgage product and HUD HOME rules. Property must be an eligible new or existing single-family home located within the Town of Brookhaven (Suffolk County). Buyer must be a first-time homebuyer (no ownership of residential real estate in previous 3 years). Maximum eligible purchase price $551,000 (HUD HOME 95% rule for Suffolk). Household income limits: 1-person approximately $92,350 up to 8-person $174,150 (80% HUD AMI for Nassau-Suffolk MSA, varies by household size). Minimum 580 FICO; buyer must qualify for a first mortgage with adequate financial resources. Buyer must occupy the home as primary residence for 10 years (HUD HOME affordability period; some grant tiers extend to 15 years). Annual monitoring affidavit mailed to grant recipient; failure to comply triggers full repayment. Buyer cannot use property as rental or for any non-owner-occupied purpose. Funds are available first-come, first-served until exhausted. Additional layered funding from New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC) may be available for qualified buyers.
What are the income limits?
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income must be at or below 80% HUD Area Median Income for the Nassau-Suffolk HUD Metro FMR Area. 2025 80% AMI limits range approximately: 1-person $92,350; 2-person $105,550; 3-person $118,750; 4-person $131,900; 5-person $142,500; 6-person $153,050; 7-person $163,600; 8-person $174,150. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. 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?
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program caps the purchase price at $551,000. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, Condominium, and Townhouse. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
Where does it apply?
Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Brookhaven, New York.
How do you apply?
Applications for Brookhaven HOME Down Payment Assistance Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through First-come, first-served through the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) until funding is exhausted. Applicants apply via LIHP's online portal at lihp.tfaforms.net/5103385 after completing intake and homebuyer education. 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 Brookhaven homebuyersOther programs open to Brookhaven homebuyers
- Suffolk County HOME Consortium Down Payment Assistance Program for First-Time HomebuyersUp to $30,000
- Long Island Housing Partnership Employer Assisted Housing Program (EAHP)Up to $10,000
- FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program (HDP) SuiteUp to $30,000
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 68 programs for BrookhavenProgram terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.