Are you thinking of buying your first home in Massachusetts? The state of Massachusetts provides first time home buyer incentives and programs to communities and individuals. In turn, those communities provide assistance directly to individuals and families. We have the contact details lower on this page. It will be well worth your time to educate yourself about the grant programs that are available to Massachusetts residents.
The Housing Development Division of the Department of Housing and Community Development provides funding to developers, non-profit organizations and communities to assist first time homebuyers.
The contact information for the Massachusetts Housing and Economic Development is:
Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
One Ashburton Place, Room 2101
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-3610
Fax: (617) 788-3605
Greg Bialecki, Secretary
Local First Time Home Buyer Grant Programs in Massachusetts
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides home buyer assistance and grants in every state. There are programs designed specifically for people that meet certain requirements, such as grants for people with disabilities so they can continue to live independently at home. It is worth visiting HUD’s website to see what assistance is currently available. For your convenience, simply go to first time home owner grants in Massachusetts.
Here is the contact information for the HUD office in Massachusetts:
Boston Regional Office
Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr.
Federal Building
10 Causeway Street
3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02222-1092
Phone: (617) 994-8200
Fax: (617) 565-6558
As mentioned above, there are also these local grant programs in MA:
HOME ADDI Buyer Assistance Programs by Town:
Abington NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Shore is an approved Housing Counseling Agency. NHS is certified by MassHousing, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Citizens for Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA).
Agawam HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
First-Time Homebuyer Education and Assistance: HAP’s comprehensive homebuyer education course is offered regularly throughout the year; please see HAP’s home page for a current listing. Our FIRST HOME staff can assist you through the process of buying a house, helping you to understand how to choose a house and how to successfully apply for a mortgage that meets your needs. Graduates of the program have access to special mortgage products such as the Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s Soft Second Loan Program and down payment assistance programs such as the new American Dream Downpayment Initiative. The course is taught in Spanish as well as in English. For more information, call 413-233-1610.
Ashfield Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 774-2932 x 2
Attleboro Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
“THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM”
OWNING A HOME OF YOUR OWN
PRO-HOME, INC, CAN HELP MAKE THIS DREAM COME TRUE FOR YOU!
Pro-Home, Inc. administers the HOME down payment/closing cost program for Taunton, Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Carver, Lakeville, Mansfield, Middleboro, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, and Seekonk
Based on need. Involves no monthly payment; the money is paid back upon resale of the property. If the house is owner occupied for 5 years the money is forgiven (becomes a grant).
Belchertown HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Berkley Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Bernardston Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (508) 821-2514
Braintree NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Brimfield HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Brockton NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Buckland Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 770-2227 x 22
Burlington Community Service Network Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
Canton QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
The City of Quincy provided $9,500 of CDBG funds to Quincy Community Action Plan (QCAP) for a Fair Housing Counseling Program. QCAP assisted and educated 307 Quincy households, of which 250 were low/moderate income, and 210 were low income. Of these households, 101 were female head of household, 35 were Asian, 13 were Hispanic, 3 were American Indian/Alaskan Native, 184 were white, and 40 were black. PCD staff did outreach at eight of QCAP’s First Time Homebuyer seminars.
Charlemont Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Chesterfield HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Colrain Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
Colrain HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Concord Community Service Network Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
Conway Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
Dedham QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. (QCAP) is the leading private nonprofit organization in the Greater Quincy area dedicated to reducing poverty and helping low-income people achieve self-sufficiency. QCAP was incorporated in 1965 and is one of 24 Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts. QCAP serves 18,000 unduplicated people annually. Our service area includes Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hull and surrounding Norfolk County and South Shore Communities.
Deerfield Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Dighton Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
“THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM”
OWNING A HOME OF YOUR OWN
PRO-HOME, INC, CAN HELP MAKE THIS DREAM COME TRUE FOR YOU!
Pro-Home, Inc. administers the HOME down payment/closing cost program for Taunton, Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Carver, Lakeville, Mansfield, Middleboro, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, and Seekonk
Based on need. Involves no monthly payment; the money is paid back upon resale of the property. If the house is owner occupied for 5 years the money is forgiven (becomes a grant).
REQUIREMENTS:
• Be a 1st home buyer
• Property must be owner occupied
• Complete Pre and Post Homebuyer courses
• Meet income eligibility limits
• Purchase in Taunton, Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Carver, Lakeville, Mansfield, Middleboro, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, or Seekonk
• Have all income and debt verified
• Have satisfactory credit
• Have a financial gap
E. Longmeadow HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Easthampton HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
HAPHousing offers a variety of programs that make the dream of homeownership possible for families of modest means. Many of the people we work with come to HAPHousing first for help overcoming barriers, such as:
establishing good credit
repairing credit issues
uncertainty about the homebuying process
insufficient income
Easton Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Erving Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (508) 821-2514
Foxborough QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Franklin QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Cities and towns and non-profit housing agencies throughout Massachusetts provide down payment and closing costs assistance to first-time homebuyers in their regions. This assistance covers some of the costs that homebuyers must pay at the time they buy their home.
Down payment and closing costs assistance is for lower income homebuyers who can afford monthly mortgage payments but cannot save enough to pay the initial home purchase costs. The goal of the program is to increase homeownership among lower income households.
Gill Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Granville HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Greenfield Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Hanover QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Hanson NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Hawley Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 770-2227 x 22
Across the state, our network agencies assist the homebuyers by:
Providing one-on-one pre-purchase counseling
Helping to find low-cost mortgages
Offering access to repair funds from state, federal, and local programs
Leading homeownership classes and education
For households with modest incomes, the Regional Housing Network makes homeownership possible by running sweat equity programs in rural areas to reduce construction costs and by obtaining low-cost federal mortgages.
In addition to providing education and access to financing options and programs, the Regional Housing Network provides buyers with access to properties that are government or bank-owned. After move-in day, we support the homeowners by offering continuing education.
Heath Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 770-2227 x 22
Hingham QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Safe and affordable housing is essential to building healthy families and communities. QCAP’s Housing Program plays a leading role in advocating for, developing and managing affordable housing for low and moderate income families and individuals in Quincy and Weymouth. In addition, as the most comprehensive housing program in the greater Quincy area, QCAP Housing offers a variety of assistance for the homebuyers, homeowners, tenants, landlords, homeless and near homeless families to help secure and stabilize housing.
Holbrook QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Huntington HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Kingston QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Lakeville Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Leverett Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (508) 821-2514
Leyden Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (508) 821-2514
Mansfield Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Marshfield QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Middleboro Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Middleborough NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Milton QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Monroe Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Monson HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Montague Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
Montgomery HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
New Salem Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
Norfolk QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
North Attleboro Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Northampton HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Northfield Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
Norton Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Norwell QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Norwood NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Orange Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 770-2227 x 22
Palmer HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Pelham HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Plainfield HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Plainville Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
These funds can be used by eligible applicants to provide downpayment or closing costs assistance to qualified households. Eligible applicants must ensure that households receiving assistance under HOME ADDI complete a homebuyer education course that includes pre- and post-purchase counseling.
First-time homebuyers receiving a HOME ADDI Acquisition Loan may earn no more than 80% of the area median income. Each assisted unit must have a purchase price that does not exceed 95% of the area’s median price, as determined by the Single Family Mortgage Limits under Section 203(b). Any HOME-assisted rental units in multi-family properties must be leased to households earning no more than 60% of area median income.
Plymouth Plymouth RDA Laura Schaefer (508) 747-1620 x 146
Randolph QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Raynham Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
Reading Community Service Network Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
This comprehensive class takes prospective first-time home-buyers through the process educating them on all aspects of purchasing a home and what to expect at each step along the way.
Individuals who successfully complete the class receive a first- time home-buyer class completion certificate. (Approved by HUD as a housing counseling agency-certificate qualifies for some financial product options. CHAPA Gold Seal of Approval recipient.) Class participants must pre-register for the workshop (click on homebuyer registration form below.)
Rockland NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Rowe Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 770-2227 x 22
Scituate QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
INFORMATION FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS:
Anyone purchasing affordable housing in Scituate must meet the following requirements:
May be either an individual or household which meets income criteria with assets less than $75,000 who has not owned a home in the previous three years or
May be an individual over 55 years of age, a household with one member over 55, a displaced homemaker or single parent who meets income criteria with assets less than $75,000 who doesn’t presently own a home.
Scituate participates in several programs to assist first-time home buyers with downpayments. The Soft Second Program offers downpayment assistance for homes priced up to $250,000. This program is administered through South Shore Housing Development Corporation (781-422-4200.) Follow the attached link for more information on this program Information on Soft Second Downpayment Assistance.
Quincy Community Action Program administers the American Dream Downpayment Initiative, which offers up to $10,000 towards the downpayment on homes for Scituate residents who have less than $25,000 in assets. This program is available for homes with an appraised value of up to $362,790. See QCAP Homeowner Assistance for information on the workshop schedule and downpayment assistance or call 617-479-8181 X115.
Shelburne Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Shutesbury Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
South Hadley HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Southampton HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Southwick HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Stoneham Community Service Network Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
Stoughton QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Sunderland Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Taunton Pro-Home, Inc. Kirt Rebello (508) 821-2514
W. Springfield HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Wakefield Community Service Network Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
Ware HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Warwick Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
Wendell Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (413) 233-1615
West Bridgewater QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Westfield HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Westhampton HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Westport QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Westwood NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Weymouth NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Weymouth QCAP Carolyn Sheppard (617) 479-8181
Whately Greenfield Housing Associates Lori Davis (617) 479-8181
Whitman NHS South Shore Janice Tucker (617) 770-2227 x 22
Wilbraham HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
The overview provided at your home buyer education course will give you a sense of how each profession contributes to the process of buying a home. You may also meet a professional that you would like to work with when you are assembling your team of professionals to help you purchase your home. Home buyer education courses are provided at low to no cost. A typical course costs $50 or less per household. Some courses are held over a few week period, others are offered in a one day seminar format. Non-profits involved in Buy Holyoke Now, real estate agents, and lenders can help you find a course.We believe that educated home buyers are more successful homeowners. Part of sustainable homeownership is understanding the benefits and responsibilities of homeownership. Some lenders or loan programs require first time home buyer course completion. Sign up for a course and learn more about homebuying and homeownership!
Williamsburg HAP, Inc. Marta Santiago (413) 233-1615
Winchester Community Service Network Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
Sheila Herbek (781) 438-5981
