Franklin County, OH First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Franklin County buyers can apply to 2 local down payment programs, with help up to $14,999 through American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) Program, on top of Ohio's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Franklin County
These are run by City of Columbus, Ohio (statewide), separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) Program City of Columbus (City of Columbus Department of Development, Housing Division) · source | deferred, forgivable loan | Up to 6% of the purchase price, maximum $14,999 | At or below 120% of Area Median Income | Yes | Inside Columbus city limits; single-family home or condominium |
| OHFA Down Payment Assistance Ohio (statewide) (Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA)) · source | forgivable second, forgiven after 7 years (full repayment due if sold/refinanced within 7 years) | 3% of the purchase price for conventional loans; 3.5% for government loans (FHA, VA, USDA-RD) | Must meet OHFA's published county-specific income and purchase-price limits | No | Statewide, including Franklin County; |
- American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) Program. Loan is forgiven after 5 years of owner-occupancy as a primary residence. Requires HUD-approved homebuyer education, a minimum $500 personal-funds contribution from the buyer, and standard DTI ratios.
- OHFA Down Payment Assistance. Minimum credit score: 640 Credit score minimum: 640+ for conventional/USDA/VA, 650+ for FHA. Requires free HUD-approved homebuyer education (completed after loan application submission) and use of an OHFA-approved lender.
Income limits in Franklin County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area (Franklin County) (fiscal year 2025): the area median family income is $109,000 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $87,200 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Ohio statewide programs you can also use in Franklin County
Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) (homebuyer programs page) runs 7 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Ohio, with down payment help up to 3.5% of the price (about $9,202 on a median-priced home) through OHFA Down Payment Assistance. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHFA Down Payment Assistance source | Forgivable second loan | 3% of the purchase price for conventional loans or 3.5% for government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) | No | 640 | See program page |
| Grants for Grads source | Forgivable second loan | 3% of the purchase price for conventional loans or 3.5% for government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| Ohio Heroes source | Program | See program page | No | n/a | See program page |
| Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Plus) source | Tax credit (MCC) | Federal tax credit of 40% of home mortgage interest paid; maximum annual credit $2,000 | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Basic) source | Tax credit (MCC) | Federal tax credit of 20% of home mortgage interest for properties in a target area, or 15% for all other properties | Yes | n/a | See program page |
| Next Home source | Program | See program page | No | n/a | See program page |
| Ohio Homebuyer Plus source | Program | See program page | No | n/a | See program page |
Ohio also offers a mortgage credit certificate (OHFA Mortgage Tax Credit (MTC Plus / MTC Basic)), a federal tax credit worth 40% of your mortgage interest each year. MCC program page
Franklin County closing costs that differ from the rest of Ohio
Transfer tax: Ohio's real property conveyance fee in Franklin County is $3 per $1,000 of the sale price (a $1-per-$1,000 fee set by the State of Ohio plus a $2-per-$1,000 local fee set by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners), plus a separate $0.50 transfer tax, for all non-exempt transfers. A $3 minimum conveyance fee applies. If the seller (grantor) holds a homestead exemption on the property at the time of transfer, Franklin County waives its 2 mills, leaving only the mandatory state 1 mill. Source
Owner's title policy: seller (customary in Franklin County)
The $3/$1,000 conveyance fee and $0.com; a direct fetch of the Auditor's Transfer and Conveyance page returned only site navigation, not the fee table itself - confirm the exact current fee and any exemption thresholds via the Auditor's Conveyance Fee Calculator (audr-apps.franklincountyohio.gov/calc/conveyancefee) before publishing. Recording fees (charged separately by the Franklin County Recorder's office, not the Auditor) were not located this pass.
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Franklin County, OH?
American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) Program (City of Columbus, up to $14,999); OHFA Down Payment Assistance (Ohio (statewide), up to 3.5%). Ohio statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Franklin County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $87,200 for a four-person household in Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area (Franklin County) (FY2025). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Franklin County?
Ohio's real property conveyance fee in Franklin County is $3 per $1,000 of the sale price (a $1-per-$1,000 fee set by the State of Ohio plus a $2-per-$1,000 local fee set by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners), plus a separate $0.50 transfer tax, for all non-exempt transfers. A $3 minimum conveyance fee applies. If the seller (grantor) holds a homestead exemption on the property at the time of transfer, Franklin County waives its 2 mills, leaving only the mandatory state 1 mill.
Official sources
- City of Columbus: American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) Program
- Ohio (statewide): OHFA Down Payment Assistance
- HUD income limits
- Franklin County transfer tax
- Franklin County recording fees
Franklin County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
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