First-Time Homebuyers in Massachusetts

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Funding: MassHousing mortgages can be combined with down payment assistance of up to 30000 dollars statewide to help eligible first time and modest income buyers cover down payment and closing costs while keeping monthly payments affordable.State housing finance agency platform that delivers affordable 30 year fixed rate MassHousing mortgages through participating lenders and allows eligible buyers to add agency backed down payment assistance up to 30000 dollars to reduce cash needed at closing.RollingDeadline: Scope: Statewidestate

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Summary

Statewide MassHousing homebuyer portal offering affordable fixed-rate mortgages, down payment assistance, and homebuyer education to first-time and modest-income buyers across Massachusetts.

Benefits

down payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceaffordable mortgagehomebuyer educationlow down payment

Who Can Apply

homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerMassachusetts residentowner-occupant

Eligible Locations

Households with modest incomes purchasing a one to four unit primary residence including single family homes, condominiums and two to four family properties anywhere in Massachusetts who meet MassHousing income limits, credit and debt to income guidelines and work with an approved MassHousing lender and complete required homebuyer education.

Eligibility

Households with modest incomes purchasing a 1–4 unit primary residence (single-family, condo, or 2–4 family) anywhere in Massachusetts who meet MassHousing income limits, credit and debt-to-income guidelines; many products target first-time homebuyers, though some programs are open to repeat buyers.

Full Description

This page introduces MassHousing as a one-stop hub for first-time and modest-income homebuyers in Massachusetts. It explains that MassHousing works with more than 80 approved lenders to deliver affordable 30-year fixed-rate mortgages that can finance single-family homes, condos, and 2–4 family properties statewide. Borrowers must meet income limits and other underwriting criteria, and many offerings are designed especially for first-time buyers. The site guides visitors through steps to homeownership, including taking a MassHousing-approved homebuyer education course, checking basic eligibility, and contacting a participating lender. MassHousing mortgages can be paired with agency-backed down payment assistance of up to $30,000 in every city and town, helping buyers overcome one of the biggest barriers to ownership while keeping payments predictable and sustainable.

Verification & Details

Status: Open

Source: masshousing.com

Official source → masshousing.com

Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 6, 2025

Recommended Resource

First-Time Homebuyer Starter Pack (2025 Edition)

A complete first-time homebuyer toolkit: 9 checklists, timelines, grant guidance, worksheets + editable Excel/Google Sheet budget & affordability calculator.

first-time homebuyerhomebuyer starter packhome buying checklistbudget templategoogle sheet budgetdown payment assistancehomeownership toolkitdigital downloadPDF workbookaffordability calculator

View digital guide Buy now

More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout Massachusetts that complement this opportunity.

Housing Programs – City of Salem

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City of Salem, MA – Department of Planning & Community DevelopmentMAFirst-Time HomeownerCity housing office that uses local, state and federal funds to offer first time homebuyer down payment assistance loans, housing rehabilitation loans and landlord assistance programs alongside broader housing stability resources.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

City of Salem housing resource hub featuring the First-Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Loan Program plus rehab, landlord, and housing stability programs for residents.

Funding: The First-Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Loan Program provides down payment assistance loans to income eligible buyers purchasing in Salem, while separate rehab and landlord programs offer financing for owner occupied and investor owned properties; specific loan sizes and terms are defined in individual program guidelines rather than as a single flat grant amount on this overview page.Deadline: Low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers seeking to purchase a primary residence within Salem city limits who can provide required matching funds and meet program income and underwriting guidelines; separate rehab and landlord assistance programs serve income-eligible owners and landlords of 1–7 unit properties.RollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerhomeownerlandlordSalem residentdown payment assistancerehabilitation loanlandlord assistancehousing stabilityhomebuyer education

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ONE Mortgage Program

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Commonwealth of MassachusettsMAFirst-Time HomeownerState supported affordable mortgage program administered by Massachusetts Housing Partnership that provides a 30 year fixed rate first mortgage with low down payment, no private mortgage insurance and built in interest subsidy and in some variants access to additional down payment or closing cost assistance.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Flagship affordable mortgage program offering first-time buyers a low down payment, below-market fixed rate, no PMI, and built-in interest subsidy to keep payments manageable.

Eligible for: Low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in Massachusetts who meet MHP income and purchase price limits, complete approved homebuyer e…

Funding: Rather than a flat grant, the program lowers total housing costs through below market interest rates, elimination of private mortgage insurance and, in some cases, layered subsidies and assistance such as ONE plus and ONE plus Boston that together can save borrowers thousands of dollars over the life of the loan and may include targeted down payment or closing cost help.Deadline: Rolling; available through participating ONE Mortgage lenders while program funding and interest-subsidy allocations remain.RollingStatewidehomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerMassachusetts residentlow down paymentno PMIinterest subsidyaffordable mortgagehomebuyer education

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MassHousing Mortgages

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Commonwealth of MassachusettsMAFirst-Time HomeownerState information portal describing MassHousing 30 year fixed rate mortgage products delivered through partner lenders with features such as low down payment requirements, competitive interest rates, optional mortgage payment protection and the ability to pair loans with MassHousing down payment assistance up to 30000 dollars.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

State information page summarizing MassHousing mortgage products: safe, fixed-rate loans with low down payment requirements and optional down payment assistance.

Eligible for: Massachusetts homebuyers with modest incomes who purchase 1–4 unit primary residences in the state, meet MassHousing income and purchase pri…

Funding: The page highlights that MassHousing mortgages can be combined with agency down payment assistance of up to 30000 dollars when paired with an eligible MassHousing first loan, even though the mortgage products themselves do not provide a flat grant amount.Deadline: Rolling; MassHousing loans are available year-round through participating lenders, subject to program terms and funding.RollingStatewidehomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerrepeat homebuyerlow-income homebuyerMassachusetts residentaffordable mortgagelow down paymentdown payment assistancepayment protectionhomebuyer education

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Down Payment Assistance up to $30,000

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MassHousingMAFirst-Time HomeownerState housing finance agency second mortgage program that offers structured deferred and amortizing loans layered on top of MassHousing first mortgages to cover a portion of the buyer's down payment and closing costs.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

MassHousing’s flagship down payment assistance program providing up to $30,000 statewide via structured second mortgages layered on top of MassHousing first loans.

Eligible for: Income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing a 1–4 unit primary residence (single-family, condo, or 2–4 family) in Massachusetts who pai…

Funding: Provides up to 30000 dollars in down payment assistance as a second mortgage when combined with a MassHousing first loan, including a zero percent deferred option up to 30000 dollars with no monthly payments until payoff, sale or refinance and additional options that offer up to 25000 dollars as 15 year amortizing second mortgages at fixed 2 or 3 percent interest with modest monthly payments.Deadline: Rolling; available in every city and town in Massachusetts while borrowers qualify for an underlying MassHousing first mortgage and DPA funds remain.RollingStatewidehomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyerMassachusetts residentowner-occupantdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancesecond mortgagedeferred loanaffordable mortgage

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