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City of Cincinnati
Cincinnati ADDI: up to $14,999 for first-time buyers
First-time low- to moderate-income buyers in the City of Cincinnati who have not owned in three years can get up to $14,999 as a non-interest deferred loan.
Fact box
American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) - City of Cincinnati
Open
City of Cincinnati
For
First-time low-to-moderate-income buyers (no ownership in last 3 years)
Amount
Up to $14,999
Form
Deferred loan, no monthly bill
Income cap
Low-to-moderate income (exact limit not stated in the City document)
First-timers only
Yes
Fine print
Single-family owner-occupied; HUD-approved homebuyer counseling; 5-year residency requirement with recapture if sold or moved
The City's 'Federal Program Resources' list (as of August 2026) says it is a 5-year non-interest-bearing deferred loan with ongoing, rolling applications. The program page (choosecincy.com) blocked automated access and was not read.
The City of Cincinnati Department of Opportunity and Resident Services runs the program. Buyers can receive up to $14,999 as a five-year, non-interest-bearing deferred loan. You live in the home for five years; if you sell or move out before then, the City recaptures the assistance. The City’s August 2026 list of federal program resources describes applications as ongoing and rolling, so there is no single yearly window.
Who qualifies?
You must be a first-time buyer, defined as no home ownership in the last three years, with low to moderate income. The City document does not print the exact income limit, so ask when you apply. The home must be single-family and owner-occupied in Cincinnati. Before closing you complete HUD-approved homebuyer counseling. No price cap is listed in the document reviewed. The program page on choosecincy.com could not be read for this guide, so confirm current rules there or with the City contact, Lawrence Taylor. The City runs the program for owner-occupants only, so the home has to be where you actually live, not a rental you plan to buy and lease out.
Using it with Ohio Heroes and other help
The City’s list does not say whether ADDI combines with Ohio Heroes or OHFA down payment assistance, so a participating lender confirms whether they combine. Ohio Heroes’ OHFA help is forgiven after seven years while ADDI’s recapture period is five, so the two run on different clocks. Ohio Heroes uses its own income limits ($126,385 for three or more people in Hamilton County), so check both caps; some buyers will qualify only for the state program. Our first-time buyer steps guide shows where counseling fits in the timeline.
How do you apply?
Reach the City’s Department of Opportunity and Resident Services (Lawrence.Taylor@cincinnati-oh.gov) to confirm income limits and current lender requirements. Complete HUD-approved homebuyer counseling, get pre-approved, and have your lender coordinate the ADDI loan before closing. Because applications are rolling, you can start whenever you are ready to buy, and there is no lottery or reservation date to wait for. To see what else may apply, check your eligibility.
Based on the program's official page as of November 2026. Money and rules shift, so confirm terms with the program or a participating lender. Ohio Down Payment Assistance has no affiliation with this program.
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