I'm self-employed in Ohio. Can I get an OHFA loan and down payment help?
Ohio contractors, practice owners and 1099 nurses can use OHFA's loan and 3% to 3.5% help. Worked examples, the history rules, the paperwork and the write-off trap.
Guides
The Ohio buyer's reference shelf
Straight answers for Ohio buyers on what a first home really costs here: property tax breaks, transfer fees, city abatements, old-house inspections, and the fine print on OHFA's loans and assistance.
I deliver or drive for apps in Ohio. Can I qualify for down payment help?
Ohio DoorDash, Uber, Instacart and Amazon Flex workers can use OHFA's first-time loan and 3% to 3.5% help. The mileage math, how long you need, and which programs fit.
Does a first home in Ohio get the homestead exemption or the 2.5% credit?
Most first-time buyers in Ohio will not get the homestead exemption. Almost all can get the 2.5% owner-occupancy credit. Who gets which, and the box to check at closing.
What closing costs will I pay when I buy a home in Ohio?
Ohio's conveyance fee runs $1 to $4 per $1,000 of price depending on the county, and state guidance puts it on the seller. What lands on the buyer's side of the closing statement.
Should I buy an abated home in Cleveland, Cincinnati or Columbus?
A 15-year tax abatement can make a new or rehabbed Ohio home cheaper to carry than an older one. How the three big cities' programs differ, and what to ask before you buy.
What should I check before buying an older home in Ohio?
Much of Ohio's starter housing predates 1978. What the lead disclosure rule gives you, which cities make sellers get a point-of-sale inspection, and when a septic check is required.
Is it cheaper to buy a first home in Columbus, Cleveland or Cincinnati?
Ohio's three biggest metros have different OHFA limits, conveyance fees, local down payment programs and tax breaks. A side-by-side look for first-time buyers.
Will I have to repay the down payment help I get in Ohio?
OHFA's assistance is forgiven after seven years, but sell in year six and you owe all of it. The payback rules for OHFA, Grants for Grads and Ohio's city programs, side by side.
Is OHFA's Mortgage Tax Credit worth it, and what is the recapture tax?
OHFA's Mortgage Tax Credit can cut your federal tax bill by up to $2,000 a year. How MTC Plus and MTC Basic differ, what the cap really means, and who could face the recapture tax.
I just graduated and started teaching or nursing. Grants for Grads or Ohio Heroes?
A new teacher or nurse in Ohio may qualify for both OHFA programs. Grants for Grads forgives its help in five years if you stay in Ohio; Ohio Heroes takes seven. How to pick, and how lenders count a first-year paycheck.
What credit score and debt ratio do I need for Ohio Heroes?
OHFA asks for a 640 score on conventional, VA and USDA loans and 650 on FHA, higher than the federal floors. What that means, how debt ratios work, and the tighter caps some Ohio city programs add.
Can I buy a rural Ohio home with a USDA loan and Ohio Heroes?
A USDA loan can mean $0 down in rural Ohio, and Ohio Heroes can run on one with 3.5% help for closing costs. The two income tests, OHFA's 2- and 5-acre limit, and wells and septic.
