First-time home buyer programs in Ohio
OHFA's YourChoice! assistance lets Ohio buyers pick 2.5% or 5% of the purchase price, forgiven entirely after seven years in the home. Recent graduates and public-service workers get their own enhanced tracks.
Brokers in our network can pair these programs with competing loan offers — free, no obligation.
YourChoice! Down Payment Assistance
Pick your assistance level; live in the home seven years and it's forgiven.
- 2.5% or 5% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs
- Forgiven after 7 years; repaid only if you sell or refinance sooner
- Minimum ~640 credit score; income limits around $132,000
- Free HUD-approved homebuyer course required
Grants for Grads & Ohio Heroes
Enhanced terms for recent graduates and service professions.
- Grants for Grads: assistance forgiven after 5 years for buyers with a degree earned in the last 48 months who stay in Ohio
- Ohio Heroes: 0.25% rate discount for teachers, nurses, police, fire, EMS, and military
- Both stack with OHFA's 30-year fixed first mortgages
- Columbus-area buyers: Franklin County's 2026 FHA limit is $591,100
Program terms, income limits, and funding availability change throughout the year — confirm current details with OHFA or a licensed Ohio broker before relying on them.
Pair assistance with an FHA loan in Ohio
Most Ohio first-time buyers combine down payment assistance with an FHA first mortgage. 2026 FHA one-unit limits run from $541,287 (the national floor) up to $591,100 in Columbus.
See all 2026 Ohio FHA loan limits →Find a broker in your Ohio market
Local brokers know which programs are funded right now and how to stack them:
Ohio first-time buyer FAQ
How does Ohio's YourChoice! assistance work?
You choose 2.5% or 5% of the purchase price as assistance. Stay in the home seven years and the full amount is forgiven; sell or refinance earlier and you repay it. Most buyers need a 640+ score and income under roughly $132,000.
What does Ohio offer recent college graduates?
Grants for Grads shortens forgiveness to five years for buyers who earned an associate's degree or higher within the last 48 months — as long as you stay in Ohio.
Can teachers and first responders get a better rate in Ohio?
Yes — Ohio Heroes gives a 0.25% mortgage-rate discount plus the standard 2.5%/5% assistance for teachers, nurses, police, firefighters, EMS, and military members.
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