Ohio Heroes · Lake County
Buying your first home in Lake County, Ohio
Lake County, east of Cleveland with about 232,000 residents, has Painesville as its seat.
- Painesvillecounty seat
- 232,217residents
- $120,750income cap, 3+ people
- $566,355price cap
What buyers in Lake County should know
Mentor Public Schools, Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools and Painesville City Schools are the main school employers here. The Mentor Police Department, Mentor Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff's Office cover much of local public safety.
Buyers often compare Mentor, Willoughby, Eastlake, Painesville and Wickliffe. All use Lake County's limits of $105,000 for 1 to 2 people and $120,750 for 3 or more.
Volunteer firefighters are on OHFA's list too, so if you serve part time with a department and work elsewhere, you may still qualify.
The Lake County caps
| Income cap, 1–2 people | Income cap, 3 or more | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $105,000 | $120,750 | $566,355 |
Lake County's non-target limits are $105,000 and $120,750, the same as Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina, with a $566,355 single-family cap. Compare the statewide table, or work out a price you can carry.
Local money in Lake County
We found no program today that is limited to Lake County. That does not leave you empty-handed: the statewide options still apply. See the full Ohio list.
Homebuyer classes near Lake County
Plan on a homebuyer class. Nearly every assistance program makes you take one before closing. These HUD-approved agencies near Lake County teach the class or offer one-on-one counseling before you buy:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | How it is taught |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Housing Resource Center | Painesville | 1 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English / Spanish | In person / By phone / Online |
| Home Repair Resource Center | Cleveland Heights | 20 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English | In person / By phone / Online |
| Breaking Chains Inc | Beachwood | 22 mi | Pre-buy advice | English | By phone |
| Benjamin Rose | Cleveland | 23 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English / Spanish | In person / By phone / Online |
| Community Housing Solutions | Cleveland | 24 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English / Spanish | In person / By phone |
From HUD's list of approved housing counseling agencies. A class one program accepts may not count for another.
Local employers whose staff may fit
- Mentor Public Schools
- Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools
- Painesville City Schools
- Lake County Sheriff's Office
- Mentor Police Department
- Mentor Fire Department
Mentor firefighters, Willoughby-Eastlake teachers and Lake County deputies are all covered by OHFA's role list. The full job list
Questions from Lake County readers
Do volunteer firefighters in Lake County qualify?
Yes. OHFA names volunteer firefighters on the Ohio Heroes list.
Can I buy in Wickliffe if I work in Mentor?
Yes. Both are in Lake County, so the same limits apply.
What if I owned a home five years ago?
That's fine. OHFA's first-time rule looks at ownership of a primary residence in the last three years.
Nearby county pages: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Montgomery · Summit · Lucas · Butler · Stark · all of them
