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SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program

State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a division of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) · Statewide County, New York

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Assistance

$3,000–$15,000

The maximum the program publishes — not an offer

Income limit

$101,380

The household income limit the program publishes

Price cap

$544,230

Highest purchase price the program allows

What is SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program is a first mortgage for homebuyers in Statewide County, New York, administered by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a division of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

  • The SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program is the State of New York Mortgage Agency's lowest-interest-rate first-mortgage product. It is a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with no points and a low 1% minimum borrower cash contribution, financing up to 97% LTV for qualified low-income, primarily first-time homebuyers purchasing 1-4 family homes, condos, co-ops, or manufactured homes in New York State. It includes built-in down payment assistance (greater of $3,000 or 3% of purchase price, up to $15,000) and can be paired with the Repayable Second Lien (RSL), the successor to the discontinued DPAL Plus ATD, providing up to 5% of net purchase price at 0% interest.
  • 30-year fixed rate, SONYMA's lowest interest rate.
  • No points.
  • Financing up to 97% LTV.
  • Low 1% minimum borrower cash contribution.
  • Down payment assistance of $3,000 or 3% (up to $15,000).
  • Stacks with DPAL, RSL, and other grants.
  • Reimbursable federal recapture tax.
  • Funding comes from SONYMA mortgage revenue bonds (SONYMA Bond financing).

How much assistance does it provide?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program offers between $3,000 and $15,000 in assistance.

  • Award tiers: Standard DPAL add-on: greater of $3,000 or 3% of purchase price, max $15,000. Repayable Second Lien (RSL) add-on (successor to DPAL Plus ATD): minimum $3,000, up to 5.0% of net purchase price.
  • The program can be combined with Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL), Repayable Second Lien (RSL), RemodelNY, Homes for Veterans, Graduate to Homeownership, ENERGY STAR; other grants and subsidies.
  • Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a division of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program is a first mortgage and is repaid under the terms set by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a division of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

  • Repayment is triggered by Attached Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) may be required to be repaid (all or a portion) if the home is sold or the mortgage is refinanced within the first 10 years of purchase. The first mortgage itself is a fully amortizing 30-year repayable loan.
  • The assistance is recorded in first position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: First-time buyer requirement waived for eligible military veterans (and their household members) and for buyers purchasing in a federally designated Target Area.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: No published minimum credit score on the program page; borrowers must meet SONYMA's credit underwriting standards.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Applicants must complete a homebuyer education course. Counseling from a HUD-approved agency is preferred; web-based counseling from a PMI company is acceptable when an RSL is attached.
  • Residency: Property must be located in New York State and occupied as the borrower's permanent primary residence.
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-08): pending review. DOCUMENTED PROGRAM CHANGE: SONYMA's 'DPAL Plus' / 'DPAL Plus ATD' enhanced down payment assistance loan has been DISCONTINUED/RESTRUCTURED into the Repayable Second Lien (RSL) Program (0% interest, min $3,000, max 5.0% of net purchase price, due on sale/payoff/refinance; requires 0.40% rate increase on the primary loan). The Achieving the Dream first-mortgage product is documented here as the active alternative. UNCONFIRMED (omitted): minimum credit score, max DTI, %AMI for income limits, per-program annual funding cap. Both ATD and RSL confirmed active (limits effective for reservations accepted Aug 11, 2025; RSL term sheet dated 7/21/2025).

The program excludes

  • Purchases above the $544,230 price cap
  • Households above $101,380

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

What are the income limits?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program limits household income to $101,380.

  • 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?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program caps the purchase price at $544,230.

  • Eligible property types include Single Family, Condo, Co-op, 2-4 Unit, and Manufactured.
  • New construction is eligible.
  • Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program names veterans, active-duty service 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?

SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program serves buyers purchasing in Statewide County, New York.

How do you apply?

Applications for SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program go through State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a division of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Applicants must complete a homebuyer education course. Counseling from a HUD-approved agency is preferred; web-based counseling from a PMI company is acceptable when an RSL is attached..

  2. Contact State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a division of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through SONYMA Express (loans reserved by participating lenders); funds available first-come, first-served, 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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program, explained

A short, free course on SONYMA Achieving the Dream Program: what it is, who it is for, what the program sets and what your lender sets, where it applies and how to apply. Based on program data from July 2026. About ten minutes.

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