Introduction
Buying a new home is a giant financial step – but one you do not need to make all by yourself. There are many programs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island aimed at helping you meet the dream of home ownership. You may be eligible for a first-time home buyer program.
Massachusetts
Statewide and Regional Programs
- MassHousing: Provides affordable mortgage financing to low- and moderate-income home buyers.
- Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development: Offers mortgage, down payment, and closing cost information for first time home buyers.
- Massachusetts Housing Consumer Education Centers: Helps clients locate the nearest center that offers home buyer classes.
- Massachusetts Affiliates of Habitat for Humanity: Build and rehabilitate houses for families in need with the help of volunteers.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing: Offers a first time home buyer program in rural communities.
Programs by City or Town
Boston
Home buyer Resources
Cambridge
- First-Time Home buyer Classes: Offers a CHAPA-certified first time home buyer program throughout the year. The class is free but registration is required.
- Individual Pre-Purchase Counseling: Contact Antonia Finley, Home buyer Coordinator, at 617/349-4643 or afinley@cambridgema.gov for details.
- Affordable Home ownership Units
- Financial Assistance program: Offers financial assistance to help new home buyers.
- Down Payment Assistance
- Affordable Mortgage Products
- Additional Information: Contact Antonia Finley, Home buyer Coordinator at 617-349-4643 or afinley@cambridgema.gov.
Easton
First Time Home buyers
- Home buyer Assistance Program
- Mortgage Options: A referral list and brief guide to excellent mortgage options for first-time home buyers.
- MassHousing: Provides home ownership information, a guide about the home buying process, information on MassHousing loans for those with a moderate income, plus an affordable housing search.
- Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Shore: Brockton Office: (508) 895-1782
First time home buyer programs, counseling, and classes
- Freddie Mac: Guide to buying a home, including information about mortgages, costs, and ownership.
- Veterans Affairs: Home loan programs for veterans.
- CHAPA – Home buyer Classes & Counseling Services: List of organizations offering educational workshops and counseling to individuals and families interested in buying a home.
Fall River
- Home buyer — HOME Program: One to four-family properties, manufactured or mobile homes, condominiums or cooperatives located in Fall River, meeting the FHA Mortgage Limits for the area.
Fitchburg
- Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG): Provides funds for rehabilitation of owner occupied housing, first time home buyer acquisition and rehabilitation, rental property rehabilitation and demolition.
Framingham
- Community and Economic Development Division: Offers the Housing Rehabilitation Program and First Time Homeowners Program to eligible households and individuals.
- The Soft Second Program offers down payment and closing costs assistance to prospective low and moderate income home buyers interested in purchasing a home in Framingham.
- Down Payment Assistance Program
- Framingham Housing Authority
- Housing Links
Gloucester
- Gloucester Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Supports the creation, preservation, and maintenance of affordable housing in Gloucester.
Haverhill
Lawrence
- Home development Funding: Contact James Barnes, Community Development Director (978-620-3511), jbarnes@cityoflawrence.com.
- Rehabilitation/Deleading Program: Elineth More at 978-620-3522. emore@Cityoflawrence.com
- First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program: Ana Camargo at 978-620-3531. acamargo@cityoflawrence.com
- Emergency Program for the Elderly and Disabled: Elineth More at 978-620-3522. emore@Cityoflawrence.com
Lowell
- First Time Home buyers Program
Melrose
- Grant and Loan Programs: Contact the Neighborhood Services Office at 781-581-8600.
- Rehab Loan Program: Direct Loan, Elderly Deferred – Direct Loan, Handicap Accessibility – Direct Loan.
- Lynn Lead Abatement Program
 New Bedford
- “Neighborhoods First” First Time Home buyer Program
- Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) “ONE” Program
- MassHousing Programs: For more information about a first time home buyer program or education classes, contact the Office of Housing and Community Development at 508-979-1500.
Peabody
- Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
- MASSADVANTAGET
- Transit Oriented Home Mortgage Loans
- Municipal Mortgage Program
- MASSADVANTAGET Purchase and Rehabilitation Program
For details about these programs, visit the City of Peabody web site.
Plymouth
- Workforce Housing/American Dream Buy-down program: Helps address the housing needs of existing residents. For additional information call (508) 747-1620 x 148.
Quincy
Somerville
- Closing Cost/Down Payment Assistance Programs
First Time Home buyers Education:
- Somerville Community Corporation First – Time Home buyer Seminar
- CHAPA – Home ownership Education Workshop
- MAHA Home ownership Class
Springfield
- First Time Home buyers Program: Contact Patricia Montana or Maritza Santiago at the Office of Housing, 1600 East Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA or by phone at (413) 787-6500.
Taunton
- HUD HOME Program link
- Contractor Openings
- MassHousing Home Page Link
- Housing Rehabilitation
Weymouth
- Weymouth’s First Time Home Buyer Program Application.
- NeighborWorks Southern Mass.
- Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Grant and Loan Program: Contact Weymouth’s Housing Coordinator for details.
More Home Ownership Programs and Resources
- NeighborWorks Southern Mass: Home buyer Education
- NeighborWorks Southern Mass: Mortgage Assistance and Foreclosure Counseling
- South Shore Housing Development Corporation
- Weymouth Housing Authority
Worcester
- Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance: See Eligibility & Requirements and Down Payment Assistance Application.
- HOME Affordable Housing Development
Rhode Island
Statewide and Regional Programs
- Rhode Island Housing: Provides a first-time home buyer program, including down payment and closing cost assistance.
- Rhode Island Affiliates of Habitat for Humanity: Build and rehabilitate houses for families in need with the help of volunteers.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing: Offers home buyer programs in rural communities.
Programs by City or Town
Cranston
- Community Development
- Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program
- First Time Home Buyer Program
- Closing Cost Assistance Program
- Down Payment Assistance Program
Contact Fran Falcone at 401-461-1000 Extension 7205, or email at ffalcone@cranstonri.org for more information.
Providence
- For Home buyers: Down payment and closing cost assistance programs.
- For Developers: Financial assistance available to both for-profit and non-profit developers for land acquisition and development of affordable and moderate income housing.
- Housing Loan Application Process
Woonsocket
Miscellaneous Programs
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