Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS)

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in La Grande, Oregon. Community Connection of Northeast Oregon (CCNO) administers Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)-funded down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers (no home ownership in the past three years) purchasing a primary residence in Baker, Grant, Union, or Wallowa counties. Assistance is an interest-free loan repaid with shared appreciation upon sale or refinance of the first mortgage. Households must be at or below their county Area Median Income, have a minimum 620 credit score, work with a participating lender, and complete CCNO's homebuyer education workshop. The program is not restricted to veterans. Interest-free OHCS down payment assistance loan repaid with shared appreciation at sale or refinance; for first-time buyers at or below county AMI with a 620+ credit score in Baker, Grant, Union, and Wallowa counties. Not veteran-restricted. Funding comes from State and Veteran.

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, refinance without subordination, or loss of owner-occupancy. 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.

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Not restricted to first-time homebuyers. On credit, the program states: 620 minimum FICO. A homebuyer education course is required, through CCNO / HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. Residency requirement: Property must be in CCNO service area (Baker, Grant, Union, Wallowa). Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. Veteran status required (active duty, reservist, veteran, or surviving spouse). Pre-purchase homebuyer education required. Property must be located in CCNO service area (Baker, Grant, Union, Wallowa counties). 620 minimum FICO. Income limits at 80% AMI for service area: 1-person $62,400; 8-person $73,500.

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) limits household income to 100% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Household income at or below 80% AMI for CCNO service area: 1-person $62,400; 8-person $73,500 (2025 northeast OR limits). 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.

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) caps the purchase price as follows: Set per program guidelines. Eligible property types include 1-unit single-family, condominium, townhome, PUD, manufactured home on owned land. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are eligible.

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) names 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.

Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) serves homebuyers purchasing in La Grande, Oregon.

Applications for Community Connection of NE Oregon Down Payment Assistance (OHCS) go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Application through CCNO. 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.