Down Payment Assistance
Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The program asks for
- First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Standard HUD HOME FTHB waivers
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- On credit: 640 minimum FICO recommended
- A completed homebuyer education course, through Homebase Cincinnati HUD-approved homebuyer education plus one-on-one counseling required
- Residency: Property within City of Cincinnati limits, owner-occupied
- Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent resident
- First-time homebuyer. Property within Cincinnati city limits. <=80% AMI Cincinnati MSA: $36,700-$110,700. Max purchase price $200,000-$250,000. Homebase pre-purchase homebuyer education required. Minimum $1,500 borrower contribution.
- A home inside Cincinnati city limits
It doesn’t cover
- Manufactured homes
- Purchases above the $250,000 price cap
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Cincinnati
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 Hamilton 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
Cincinnati’s homesCincinnati’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 38.3% single-familysingle-family
- 4.9% townhousetownhouse
- 20.2% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 36.1% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 0.4% 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.
$230,900
Cincinnati median home value
79.9%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Cincinnati
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program, through Homebase Cincinnati HUD-approved homebuyer education plus one-on-one counseling required.
Contact the administering agency to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through Apply via Homebase Cincinnati, 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 Down Payment Assistance?
Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Cincinnati, Ohio. Homebase Cincinnati DPA: $14,999 5-year forgivable second for FTHBs within Cincinnati. HUD-approved counseling agency administering CDBG/HOME funds. Up to $14,999 in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers within Cincinnati city limits. 0% interest 5-year forgivable second mortgage administered by Homebase Cincinnati (formerly Working In Neighborhoods/WIN), a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Funded via City of Cincinnati CDBG/HOME pass-through. Funding comes from Federal, HUD, HOME, and CDBG.
Do you have to pay it back?
Down Payment Assistance is forgiven after 5 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Pro rata recapture if owner sells/refinances/vacates within 5 years. 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?
Down Payment Assistance is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Standard HUD HOME FTHB waivers. On credit, the program states: 640 minimum FICO recommended. A homebuyer education course is required, through Homebase Cincinnati HUD-approved homebuyer education plus one-on-one counseling required. Residency requirement: Property within City of Cincinnati limits, owner-occupied. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent resident. First-time homebuyer. Property within Cincinnati city limits. <=80% AMI Cincinnati MSA: $36,700-$110,700. Max purchase price $200,000-$250,000. Homebase pre-purchase homebuyer education required. Minimum $1,500 borrower contribution.
What are the income limits?
Down Payment Assistance limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income at or below 80% Cincinnati MSA AMI: $36,700-$110,700. 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?
Down Payment Assistance caps the purchase price at $250,000. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, condo, townhouse, 1-4 unit owner-occupied. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
Is there eligibility for specific groups?
Down Payment Assistance 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?
Down Payment Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Cincinnati, Ohio. The program targets specific areas: Cincinnati NRSA neighborhoods.
How do you apply?
Applications for Down Payment Assistance go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Apply via Homebase Cincinnati. 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 Cincinnati homebuyersOther programs open to Cincinnati homebuyers
- NEST Egg Homebuyers AssistanceUp to $15,000
- City of Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI)Up to $14,000
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati Affordable Homeownership ProgramAssistance available
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 75 programs for CincinnatiProgram terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.