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Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority (The Port), through participating lenders
Communities First: a statewide Ohio down payment grant
Any eligible buyer in Ohio using a participating lender can get a grant of 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan for down payment and closing costs, and you do not have to be a first-time buyer.
Fact box
Communities First Down Payment Assistance (Ohio)
Open
Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority (The Port), through participating lenders
For
Eligible homebuyers statewide using a participating lender; no first-time homebuyer agreement
Amount
Grant of 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan for down payment/closing costs (buyer picks only what is needed); no dollar cap published
Form
Grant, no repayment
Income cap
Borrower-only income (not household): HUD limits for government loans, Freddie Mac HFA Advantage limits for conventional (PDF tables dated 5-23-25)
First-timers only
No
Pairs with Ohio Heroes
unknown - Communities First comes with its own first mortgage from the Port's lenders, while Ohio Heroes is an OHFA first mortgage, so the two are probably alternatives rather than stackable; not stated
Page (modified Oct 2, 2026) says grant funds are 'continuous' with no allocation process; no resale/refinance restrictions and no minimum occupancy period. 30+ participating lenders statewide.
The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, known as The Port, funds this grant through a network of more than 30 participating lenders across the state. You pick a grant size of 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan amount and take only what your down payment and closing costs actually require. No dollar cap is published. Because it is a grant rather than a second mortgage, there is nothing to repay, no minimum time you must live in the home and no restriction on reselling or refinancing later. The Port describes the money as continuous, with no yearly allocation or lottery, which sets it apart from the reservation-based programs elsewhere in Ohio.
Who qualifies?
Location is not a filter: a buyer in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton or any other county can apply. There is no first-time buyer rule. The income test looks only at the borrowers on the loan, not everyone in the household, which can help families with a working adult child or relative who will not be on the mortgage. Government-backed loans use HUD income limits and conventional loans use Freddie Mac HFA Advantage limits; the Port posts both as PDF tables dated May 23, 2025. No purchase price cap is listed. Your lender runs the income numbers against the table for your county.
Using it with Ohio Heroes and other help
Communities First comes with its own first mortgage from the Port’s lenders. Ohio Heroes is a separate OHFA first mortgage with a discounted rate and its own optional 3% or 3.5% assistance. Since a home has only one first mortgage, the two generally act as alternatives, not a stack, though the official pages do not say so outright. A teacher, nurse or firefighter who qualifies for both can ask a lender to price each path side by side. Repeat buyers who cannot use Ohio Heroes may find this grant the simpler route. For the difference between a grant and a forgivable loan, read our guide to DPA types.
How do you apply?
You do not apply to the Port directly. Choose a lender from its participating list, apply for the mortgage, and ask the loan officer to add the Communities First grant at the percentage you need. The lender confirms your borrower-only income against the right table and handles the grant paperwork through closing. Start with check your eligibility to see which statewide and county options fit, then compare this grant with what is offered in your area, such as Hamilton County or Franklin County.
Reader questions on Communities First Down Payment Assistance (Ohio)
Do I have to repay the Communities First grant?
No. It is a grant with no repayment, no minimum occupancy period and no resale or refinance restriction.
Do I need to be a first-time buyer?
No. The program does not require a first-time homebuyer agreement, so repeat buyers can use it.
Can I combine Communities First with Ohio Heroes?
Probably not on the same loan. Communities First comes with its own first mortgage and Ohio Heroes is an OHFA first mortgage, so they usually work as alternatives. A lender confirms.
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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