What will it really cost?
Look beyond the mortgage. Put taxes, insurance, closing costs, and a maintenance cushion into the picture.
A little clarity. A big first step.
Your first home.
A clearer path.
You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Understand the costs, find support, and take your next step with confidence.
No sign-up. No sales calls. Start where you are.
A home starts with a plan.Let’s make yours feel manageable.
Small steps. Real progress.
Pick the question that’s on your mind today.
New to all of this?
Answer five quick questions, then build a savings target for your first move.
Is there help for me?
Explore Ohio programs for down payments, public-service professionals, and recent college graduates.
Who should I talk to?
Find an independent housing counselor or an OHFA participating lender, and know what to ask.
You don’t need to be ready to buy to get started.
Build a plan now. Move at a pace that fits your life.
Start where you are.
Five questions to help you choose your next step. No credit score or personal details needed.
Your next step
A starting point, not a deadline.
Choose an answer for each question to get a practical plan.
Based on CFPB’s homebuying preparation guide ↗.
Plan the cash before the keys.
Purchase expenses + moving costs + money you want left over.
Your total savings target
This is a planning target, not cash to close. Assistance and credits are not deducted. Earnest money is generally part of purchase funds already paid, not an extra cost to add again. Ask your lender about payment timing and any upfront or financed loan fees.
See the whole monthly picture.
Change the sample numbers to explore your own scenario. This is an estimate, not a loan offer.
Estimated monthly housing budget
Includes the payment and your maintenance savings. Taxes and conventional PMI autofill using editable assumptions unless you enter known amounts.
Down payment + estimated closing costs
Before assistance, lender credits, earnest-money credits, or extra reserves. Actual cash to close may differ.
Utilities, moving costs, and an emergency fund are additional. Assistance is not deducted automatically.
A little help can open a door.
Ohio resources · Information checked October 11, 2026 · Verify current terms with each program provider.
OHFA Down Payment Assistance
Assistance of 3% for conventional loans or 3.5% for government loans can help with upfront costs. Forgiven after seven years; selling within seven years requires repayment.
Income, purchase-price, credit, and loan requirements apply. Ask a participating lender to compare the complete loan costs.
See official requirements ↗Ohio Heroes
A discounted mortgage interest rate for qualifying public-service workers, including RNs, LPNs, nurse practitioners, and STNAs, plus other listed professions.
Down payment assistance may be included. Employment, income, credit, and other eligibility requirements apply.
Explore Ohio Heroes ↗Grants for Grads
For eligible buyers who graduated with a qualifying degree within the last 18 months. Includes a discounted mortgage rate and down payment assistance.
Five-year forgiveness and Ohio residency conditions apply. Review repayment terms and all eligibility criteria.
Explore Grants for Grads ↗Home at Last
Toledo offers eligible first-time buyers up to $12,500 toward a home purchase, or up to $20,000 in designated target neighborhoods.
The home must be within Toledo city limits. Income limits of 80% of area median income, HUD-approved counseling, a minimum $500 buyer contribution, and participating-lender requirements apply.
Check Toledo eligibility ↗USDA Guaranteed Home Loan
Eligible buyers can receive 100% financing with no down payment for a primary home in a USDA-eligible rural area.
Household income and property eligibility requirements apply. This is a mortgage, not a grant; closing costs and loan fees may still apply. Check the address and apply through an approved lender.
Explore USDA requirements ↗VA Home Loans
VA-backed home loans can help eligible veterans, service members, and qualifying survivors buy a home. Many VA-backed loans require no down payment.
A Certificate of Eligibility and lender credit and income approval are required. This is a loan, not a grant; review funding fees, closing costs, and any down-payment requirements with your lender.
Check VA eligibility ↗OHFA Mortgage Tax Credit
Eligible buyers may receive a non-refundable federal credit on part of their mortgage interest, with potential savings of up to $2,000 annually. Tax liability and program requirements apply.
Availability needs confirmation: OHFA’s page says applications paused September 3, 2026, with an expected October 1 return. As checked October 11, that notice remains. Ask an OHFA lender whether applications have reopened.
Check tax-credit status ↗A program to explore is not an approval.
Your lender or housing counselor can check eligibility, local options, repayment conditions, and how programs work together.
Good guidance starts with a conversation.
Official directories to help you choose. No paid placement or referral fees.
A housing counselor
Start here if you want help with readiness, budgeting, or understanding your options. HUD-approved agencies offer independent advice, often at little or no cost.
Find a counselor ↗Questions to bring
- What should I work on before applying?
- Which assistance programs should I explore?
- What does your service cost?
An OHFA lender
Use OHFA’s county-based directory to find lenders who participate in its programs. Compare costs and terms before choosing.
Browse Ohio lenders ↗Questions to bring
- Can you compare a loan with and without assistance?
- What are the rate, APR, fees, and mortgage insurance?
- When would assistance need to be repaid?
Your homebuying guide
CFPB’s tools explain loan offers and the homebuying process, so you can prepare before speaking with a professional.
Read the buyer’s guide ↗Before choosing an agent
- Ask about experience with first-time buyers.
- Discuss representation, fees, and any agreement.
- Ask how inspections and contingencies work.
Your path, one step at a time.
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