Ohio Grants There are many grants available in this State to assist a home buyer purchase a home. By using these grants it makes it possible to purchase a home with little or no money down.  Below is a list of some of the grants available, as well as contact information for each. Some are State sponsored grants. Some are sponsored on the county or municipality level.  Understand that many of these grants have limited funding, and most have income restrictions, so it is important to work with your mortgage lender and the non profit administering the grant program to ensure availability of funds.  State Sponsored Bank Sponsored Matching Funds Programs Community/local Sponsored Grants Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance Programs State Sponsored  The State of Ohio offers a grant of 2.5% of the purchase price of the home you are trying to purchase. It can be used for down payment and closing costs. This program is to be used with the State’s OHFA’s mortgage programs. Below is a link to the State’s web site:  http://www.ohiohome.org/homebuyer/downpayment.aspx  Bank Sponsored Matching Funds Programs  Banks that are members of the Federal Home Loan Banking system also offer IDA savings accounts. Visit the Regional Federal Home Loan Bank web site for more information. Community/local Sponsored Grants Ashtabula County Community Housing Improvement First Time Homebuyers Assistance Program (FTHB)  (440) 576-3853  Athens Home Ownership Made Easier Program (HOME)  (740) 592-3342  Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority Hope VI Subsidy  (513) 977-5729  Cincinnati The Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati Inc Empowerment Zone Down payment Assistance Program (DAP)  (513) 961-2800  Cleveland Neighborhood Housing Services of Cleveland Inc Down payment Closing Cost Assistance Loan (DPCCAL)  (216) 361-0516  Cleveland, Action to Support Housing Second Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP)  (216) 621-7350  Columbus School District Columbus Neighborhood Housing Servies Inc. Down payment Assistance Program (DAP)  (614) 224-3603  Dayton Citywide Building Finance Corporation Neighborhood Lending Down Payment Assistance Program (NLDPAP)  (937) 226-0457  East Cleveland Home Ownership Program (HOP)  (216) 681-2404  Franklin County Columbus Housing Partnership Down Payment Assistance Program  (614) 221-8889  Franklin County Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP)  (614) 221-8889  Hamilton County Greater Cincinnati Mortgage Counseling Service American Dream Accounts Programs (ADAP)  (513) 948-8820  Hancock County First Time Home Buyer Grants Program  (419) 424-7094  Kettering First Time Homebuyers Program (FTHP)  (937) 296-2401  Lancaster Homebuyer Acquisition Assistance Program (HAAP)  (740) 687-6663  Madison County Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)  (614) 445-8373  Mansfield Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)  (419) 755-9793  Massillon Homebuyer's Assistance Program (HAP)  (330) 830-1717  Montgomery County - County Corp Lease Purchase Program (LPP)  (937) 225-6328  Montgomery County - County Corp. Down payment Plus Program (DPP)  (937) 225-6328  Morgan / Washington Counties Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)  (740) 373-6623  Multi Counties Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati/Ohio Trust Fund Gift Program (GIFT)  (513) 721-6855  Multi Counties Rural Opportunities Inc First Time Homebuyer Program (FTHP)  (330) 821-4740  Multi County Greater Cincinnati Mortgage Counseling Service Down payment Assistance Program (DAP)  (513) 948-8820  Ohio North Fairmont Community Center Grant Program  (513) 921-5842  Ohio Three Rivers Housing Corporation Down payment Assistance Program (DAP)  (740) 797-7139  Shaker Heights Neighborhood Revitalization Department Funds for the Future of Shaker Heights Program (FFF)  (216) 491-1330  Sidney Community Housing and Improvement Program (CHIP) (419) 352-7537  Springfield Home Purchase & Rehabilitation Incentive Program  (937) 324-7368  Springfield Redevelopment Corp. Down payment Assistance Program  (937) 322-4623  Van Wert County Homebuyer Assistance Program  (419) 238-4544  Warren County First Time Homebuyers Assistance - Deferred Loan Program (DLP)  (513) 695-1259  Youngstown Homebuyer Program (HP)  (330) 744-0854  Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance Programs There are several non profit organizations that allow a seller to “donate” funds to them at closing, which is then given to the buyer as a down payment assistance grant. Presently, the federal government is reviewing these programs to determine whether this practice is an acceptable lending practice. By using one of these programs it is possible to purchase a home with little or no money. The seller needs to be a motivated seller, and the home needs to be priced correctly. Usually the sales price is inflated to cover the “donation”. The home must be able to appraise at the inflated price. These programs are initiated by the lender, so it is important to work with a local lender before you start looking for a home. The lender will also know how present legislation is affecting the program. The two most commonly used programs are The American Dream DAP and The Nehemiah DAP. Below are links to their web site. American Dream:  http://www.americandreamdownpaymentassistance.com/dpa_app.cfm Nehemiah Corp:    http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/