Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund

What is Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Columbus, Ohio.

• Homeport's Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund: up to $40,000 0% interest 10-year forgivable second mortgage for FTHBs in Columbus/Franklin County. Named in honor of Black civil rights leader Maude Hill; mission-driven program focused on closing the racial homeownership gap with priority outreach to Black homebuyers and communities of color.
• Up to $40,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers in Columbus/Franklin County. 0% interest deferred forgivable second mortgage (10-year forgiveness term). Named in honor of Maude Hill — a prominent Black Columbus civil rights leader and homeownership advocate. Mission focus: closing the racial homeownership gap and supporting historically excluded Black families and communities of color in Columbus.
• Funding comes from Private, Philanthropic, and Local.

Do you have to pay it back?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund is forgiven after 10 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 10-year forgiveness term.
• 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?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

What are the income limits?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund limits household income to 120% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

• Household income at or below ~140% Columbus MSA AMI: $99,120-$186,900 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?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund caps the purchase price as follows: Per Homeport program guidelines and HUD 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?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, surviving spouses, and American Indian and Alaska Native buyers 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?

Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund serves buyers purchasing in Columbus, Ohio.

• The program targets specific areas: Mission-focused on closing racial homeownership gap in Columbus / Franklin County; targeted outreach to Black homebuyers, descendants of Maude Hill, and historically excluded communities of color.

How do you apply?

Applications for Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund 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; specialized counseling tracks for Black homebuyers and other historically excluded populations.

2. 2

   Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

   Funds are reserved through Apply via Homeport; subject to Maude Hill Fund annual allocation, 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.