First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance
First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Multiple, 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 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Summit County including East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation and HRDC8
- Residency: Property in Summit County, OH excluding Akron city limits; owner-occupied
- Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent resident
- First-time homebuyer. Property in Summit County, OH (excluding Akron city limits — Akron has separate program). <=80% AMI Akron MSA: $56,200-$105,950 by household size. Maximum purchase price $163,000. HUD-approved homebuyer education required. Minimum $1,000 borrower contribution.
- A home in Summit County
It doesn’t cover
- Manufactured homes
- Purchases above the $163,000 price cap
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Summit County
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 Summit 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
Summit County’s homesSummit County’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 71.4% single-familysingle-family
- 5.6% townhousetownhouse
- 7.4% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 14.7% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 0.9% 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.
$208,700
Summit County median home value
68.2%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Summit County
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program, through HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Summit County including East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation and HRDC8.
Contact the administering agency to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through Apply via Summit County CED, 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 First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance?
First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Multiple, Ohio. Summit County First Home First Loan: $5,000 0% interest deferred second mortgage for FTHBs in Summit County (excluding Akron city limits). Up to $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, structured as a 0% interest deferred second mortgage due on sale, refinance, or transfer of title (NOT forgivable). Administered by Summit County Department of Community and Economic Development for first-time homebuyers in Summit County (excluding Akron city limits). Funding comes from Local, County, CDBG, and HOME.
Do you have to pay it back?
First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Full balance due on sale, refinance, or transfer of title (deferred — not forgivable). 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?
First Home First Loan 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 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Summit County including East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation and HRDC8. Residency requirement: Property in Summit County, OH excluding Akron city limits; owner-occupied. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent resident. First-time homebuyer. Property in Summit County, OH (excluding Akron city limits — Akron has separate program). <=80% AMI Akron MSA: $56,200-$105,950 by household size. Maximum purchase price $163,000. HUD-approved homebuyer education required. Minimum $1,000 borrower contribution.
What are the income limits?
First Home First Loan 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% Akron MSA AMI: $56,200-$105,950 by household size. 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?
First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance caps the purchase price at $163,000. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, condo, townhouse, 1-2 unit owner-occupied. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
Is there eligibility for specific groups?
First Home First Loan 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?
First Home First Loan Down Payment Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Multiple, Ohio.
How do you apply?
Applications for First Home First Loan 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 Summit County CED. 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 Summit County homebuyersOther programs open to Summit County homebuyers
- First Home First Loan (FHFL) Down Payment Assistance ProgramUp to $12,000
- FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home ProgramUp to $20,000
- OHFA Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC)Up to $2,000
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 71 programs for Summit CountyProgram terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.