Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program

What is Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Multiple, Ohio.

• Homeport-administered Franklin County DPA: $10,000 5-year forgivable second for FTHBs in Franklin County outside City of Columbus.
• Up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers purchasing in Franklin County (outside City of Columbus, which has its own ADDI program). 0% interest 5-year forgivable second mortgage administered by Homeport — central Ohio's largest non-profit homeownership and affordable housing developer.
• Funding comes from Local, County, CDBG, and HOME.

Do you have to pay it back?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program is forgiven after 5 years, so a buyer 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?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

What are the income limits?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

• Household income at or below 80% Columbus MSA AMI: $69,500-$131,000 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?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program caps the purchase price as follows: Per HUD HOME 95% area median sales price for Franklin County.

• 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?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program 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?

Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program serves buyers purchasing in Multiple, Ohio.

How do you apply?

Applications for Franklin County Downpayment Assistance Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

1. 1

   Take a homebuyer education course

   Required by the program, through Homeport HUD-approved homebuyer education plus one-on-one counseling required.

2. 2

   Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

   Funds are reserved through Apply via Homeport, and are subject to availability.

3. 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.