Ohio Heroes · Veterans & military
Ohio Heroes for veterans and military members
Ohio veterans, active duty and reserve members and surviving spouses can use Ohio Heroes for a discounted OHFA rate, including on a VA loan.
Who is covered
OHFA lists veterans, active duty military members and members of reserve components, including surviving spouses. Your lender confirms what service records it needs.
Ohio Heroes is a 30-year fixed OHFA mortgage with a discounted interest rate for Ohio teachers, police, firefighters, EMTs, healthcare workers and veterans. You can add optional OHFA Down Payment Assistance of 3% (conventional) or 3.5% (FHA, VA, USDA) of the purchase price, forgiven after seven years. OHFA does not publish the size of the rate discount, so a participating lender quotes it.
Veterans skip the first-time rule
OHFA's first-time buyer rule does not apply to honorably discharged veterans. So a veteran who has owned a home recently can still use Ohio Heroes, as long as the income, price and credit rules are met.
Pairing with a VA loan
Ohio Heroes can be an FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loan. With a VA loan, OHFA Down Payment Assistance is 3.5% of the price and can go toward closing costs or other pre-closing costs.
Papers to pull together
- Last three years of tax returns and W-2s
- 30 days of pay stubs
- 30 days of bank statements
- Your Social Security number
- Your service records, in the form your lender requests
Reader questions
Can surviving spouses use Ohio Heroes?
Yes. OHFA's list includes surviving spouses.
Do reservists qualify?
Yes. Members of reserve components are on OHFA's list.
What credit score does a VA loan need here?
OHFA requires 640 or higher for VA loans.
