Home First Down Payment Assistance Program

Many New Yorkers want to buy a home but don't have enough money saved for their down payment. As part of the New Housing Marketplace Plan, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) created the Home First Down Payment Assistance Program, which will provide qualified homebuyers with a $10,000 forgivable loan to use toward the down payment or closing costs on a new home.

To qualify for the loan, prospective homebuyers must:

  • be a first-time homebuyer;
  • complete a homebuyer education course taught by an HPD-approved counseling agency;
  • have their own savings to contribute to the down payment or closing costs;
  • Meet program income eligibility requirements ($50,250 is the maximum household income for a family of four. Maximum annual income varies depending on family size) Click here for details about family composition and income limits;
  • Purchase a 1-4 family home for owner-occupancy in one of HPD's Homeownership Zones in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens or Staten Island. Maximum purchase price for a single-family home is $303,800; maximum purchase price for a two- to four-family home is $464,100). Click here for a list of HPD homeownership zones.

To take the first step toward purchasing a home through the Home First Down Payment Assistance program, contact the following HPD-approved counseling agencies:

Bronx
Neighborhood Housing Services of the North Bronx
1178 East Gun Hill Road
Bronx, NY 10469
Tel: (718) 881-1180 x202
Languages: English and Spanish

Neighborhood Services of the SouthBronx
Concourse Plaza
200 East 161st Street
Bronx, NY 10451
Tel: (718) 992-5979
Languages: English and Spanish

Brooklyn
ACORN Housing Corporation
88 3rd Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY11217
Tel: (718) 246-8080
Languages: English and Spanish

Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
3214 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY11208
Tel: (718) 647-8100
Languages: English and Spanish

Neighborhood Housing Services of BedfordStuyvesant
1012 Gates Avenue
Brooklyn, NY11221
Tel: (718) 919-2100
Languages: English and Spanish

Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush
2806 Church Avenue
Brooklyn, NY11226
Tel: (718) 469-4679
Languages: English

Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC
HomeownershipCenter
1 Hanson Place
19th Floor
Brooklyn, NY11243
Tel: (718) 230-7610
Languages: English and Spanish

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
443 39th Street, Suite 202
Brooklyn, NY 11232
Tel: (718) 686-7946 x17
Languages: English and Spanish

Manhattan
Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE)
111 Division Street
New York, NY10002
Tel: (212) 964-2288
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean

Greater Harlem Real Estate Board Development Fund
1825 Park Avenue, Suite 602
New York, NY 10035
Tel: (212) 987-9858
Languages: English and Spanish

Queens
Margert Community Corp.
19-31 Mott Avenue
Far Rockaway, NY11691
Tel: (718) 471-3724
Languages: English and Spanish

Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica
89-70 162nd Street
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel: (718) 291-7400 x13
Languages: English

Neighborhood Housing Services of Northern Queens
60-20 Woodside Avenue
2nd Floor
Woodside, NY11377
Tel: (718) 457-1017
Languages: English and Spanish

Staten Island
Neighborhood Housing Services of Staten Island
West Brighton
1205 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
Tel: (718) 442-8080
Languages: English and Spanish

Northfield Community Local Development Corporation
160 Heberton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10302
(718) 442-7351
Languages: English


Home First Down Payment Assistance Program Family Composition & Income Limits

Program participants must meet the following household size and income requirements to qualify for a $10,000 forgivable loan to use toward the down payment or closing costs on a one- to four-family home (excluding co-ops and condominiums) in one of HPD's Homeownership Zones:

Family Size

Maximum Household Income

1-person household

$35,150

2-person household

$40,200

3-person household

$45,200

4-person household

$50,250

5-person household

$54,250

6-person household

$58,300

7-person household

$62,300

8-person household

$66,300

Family size and household income based on area median income calculations established by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

 

Home First Down Payment Assistance Program Homeownership Zones

Participants in the Home First Down Payment Assistance Program must purchase a one- to four-family home for owner-occupancy in one of the following HPD Homeownership Zones:

Manhattan- Morningside Heights/Hamilton Heights, Central Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights/Inwood;

Brooklyn - Williamsburg/Greenpoint, Bedford Stuyvesant, Bushwick, East New York/Starrett City, Sunset Park, North Crown Heights/Prospect Heights, Coney Island, Brownsville/Ocean Hill;

Bronx - Mott Haven/Hunts Point, Morrisania/Belmont, Highbridge/South Concourse, University Heights/Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights/Mosholu, Soundview/Parkchester;

Queens - Corona, South Jamaica, Rockaways, Long Island City;

Staten Island - St. George/Stapleton.

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