Massachusetts First-Time Home Buying Assistance Programs & Grants for 2023

Who Is Considered a First-Time Homebuyer in Massachusetts?

The definition is broader than you might realize. In addition to someone who has never owned a home, you are considered a first-time homebuyer if you haven’t owned a house in the last three years.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you can also qualify as a first-time homebuyer if you are a single parent who has only owned a home with a partner while married, or a displaced homemaker who has only owned a home with a spouse.

Many of the state programs that help first-time buyers with mortgage loans and down payment assistance require you to take a homebuyer education course. This can help you learn the mortgage basics.

Recommended: The SoFi Guide to First-Time Homebuying

4 Massachusetts Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

There are several types of mortgage loans you may qualify for as a first time home buyer in Massachusetts. Each has certain criteria, including income and purchase price limits.

1. My Mass Mortgage: ONE Mortgage

This program offers 30-year fixed interest rate loans to low- and moderate-income first-time home buyers in Massachusetts. You can pay either 3% or 5% as a down payment, depending on the type of home you’re buying. No private mortgage Insurance is required.

To be eligible, you must meet asset and income limits, make the required down payment, be a first-time home buyer, and meet credit and underwriting requirements. The home you are buying must be your primary residence through the life of the loan, and you need to complete a homebuyer education program.

2. My Mass Mortgage: MassHousing Loan

MassHousing Loan provides low-interest fixed rate loans and mortgage payment protection. To qualify, you must meet income guidelines, have good credit, and complete a homebuyer education course.

3. MassHousing: Down Payment Assistance

With this program, you can get up to $30,000 or $50,000 to cover your down payment (the amount depends on which community you live in ). The assistance provides up to 10% of your home’s purchase price.

4. MassHousing Mortgage Loans

MassHousing also has mortgage loans with affordable, fixed interest rates and no fees for qualified buyers. It also offers conventional and FHA financing.

You can use this mortgage calculator to see what your monthly payments would be.

How to Apply to Massachusetts Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

The easiest way for the first-time home-buyer in Massachusetts to get started, is to contact a participating lender . They’ll review your situation and show you the best options for buying a home.

Not sure how much you should spend on a house? This home affordability calculator can help.

Federal Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

Several federal government programs are designed for people who have low credit scores or limited cash for a down payment. Although most of these programs are available to repeat homeowners, like state programs, they can be especially helpful to people who are buying a first home or who haven’t owned a home in several years.

The mortgages are generally for single-family homes, two- to four-unit properties that will be owner occupied, approved condos, townhomes, planned unit developments, and some manufactured homes.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loans

The FHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), insures mortgages for borrowers with lower credit scores. Homebuyers choose from a list of approved lenders that participate in the program. Loans have competitive interest rates and require a down payment of 3.5% of the purchase price for borrowers with FICO® credit scores of 580 or higher. Those with scores as low as 500 must put at least 10% down.

Gift money for the down payment is allowed from certain donors and will be documented in a gift letter for the mortgage.

FHA loans always require mortgage insurance: a 1.75% upfront fee and annual premiums for the life of the loan, unless you make a down payment of at least 10%, which allows the removal of mortgage insurance after 11 years. You can learn more about FHA loans in general and FHA lending limits in Massachusetts by county on the HUD website .

Freddie Mac Home Possible Mortgages

Very low- and low-income borrowers may make a 3% down payment on a Home Possible® mortgage. These loans allow various sources for down payments, including co-borrowers, family gifts, employer assistance, secondary financing, and sweat equity.

The Home Possible mortgage is for buyers who have a credit score of at least 660.

Once you pay 20% of your loan, the Home Possible mortgage insurance will be canceled, which will lower your mortgage payments.

Fannie Mae HomeReady Mortgages

Fannie Mae, or formally, the Federal National Mortgage Association, is a publicly traded government-sponsored enterprise that dates back to the Great Depression.

Fannie Mae HomeReady® Mortgages allow down payments as low as 3% for low-income borrowers. Applicants generally need a credit score of at least 620; pricing may be better for credit scores of 680 and above. Like the Freddie Mac program, HomeReady loans allow flexibility for down payment financing, such as gifts and grants.

For income limits, a comparison to an FHA loan, and other information, go to this Fannie Mae site .

Fannie Mae Standard 97 LTV Loan

The conventional 97 LTV loan is for first-time homebuyers of any income level who have a credit score of at least 620 and meet debt-to-income criteria. The 97% loan-to-value mortgage requires 3% down. Borrowers can get down payment and closing cost assistance from third-party sources.

Unlike an FHA loan, the 97 LTV loan has no upfront mortgage insurance fee and does have cancellable mortgage insurance. The loan is for just one-unit single-family homes, co-ops, condos, and planned unit developments.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loans

Active-duty members of the military, veterans, and eligible family members may apply for loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA loans, to buy, build, or improve homes, have lower interest rates than most other mortgages and don’t require a down payment. For most applicants, there is a one-time funding fee that can be rolled into the mortgage.

Native American Veteran Direct Loans (NADLs)

Eligible Native American veterans and their spouses may use these no-down-payment loans to buy, improve, or build a home on federal trust land. Unlike VA loans listed above, the Department of Veterans Affairs is the mortgage lender on NADLs. The VA requires no mortgage insurance, but it does charge a funding fee.

Regional loan centers are closed to the public, but for more information you can email [email protected]

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Loans

No down payment is required on these loans to moderate-income borrowers that are guaranteed by the USDA in specified rural areas. Borrowers pay an upfront guarantee fee and an annual fee that serves as mortgage insurance.

The USDA also directly issues loans to low- and very low-income people. For loan basics and income and property eligibility, head to this USDA site .

HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program

This program helps police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and teachers qualify for mortgages in the areas they serve. Borrowers can receive 50% off a home in what HUD calls a “revitalization area.” They must live in the home for at least three years.

Massachusetts Homebuyer Stats for 2022

Here’s some data about Massachusetts home sales.

•  Median home sale price in Massachusetts: $604,900

•  Average number of homes for sale: 18,762

Financing Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

In addition to federal and state government-sponsored lending programs, there are other financial strategies that may help you become a homeowner. After reading up on how to choose a mortgage term, check out these tips on how to lower your mortgage payment:

•  Traditional IRA withdrawals. The IRS allows qualifying first-time homebuyers a one-time, penalty-free withdrawal of up to $10,000 from their IRA if the money is used to buy, build, or rebuild a home. The IRS considers anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the past three years a first-time homebuyer. You will still owe income tax on the IRA withdrawal. If you’re married and your spouse has an IRA, they may also make a penalty-free withdrawal of $10,000 to purchase a home. The downside, of course, is that large withdrawals may jeopardize your retirement savings.

•  Roth IRA withdrawals. Because Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax money, the IRS allows tax- and penalty-free withdrawals of contributions for any reason as long as you’ve held the account for five years. You may also withdraw up to $10,000 in earnings from your Roth IRA without paying taxes or penalties if you are a qualifying first-time homebuyer and you have had the account for five years. With accounts held for less than five years, homebuyers will pay income tax on earnings withdrawn.

•  401(k) loans. If your employer allows borrowing from the 401(k) plan that it sponsors, you may consider taking a loan against the 401(k) account to help finance your home purchase. With most plans, you can borrow up to 50% of your 401(k) balance, up to $50,000, without incurring taxes or penalties. You pay interest on the loan, which is paid into your 401(k) account. You usually have to pay back the loan within five years, but if you’re using the money to buy a house, you may have up to 15 years to repay.

•  State and local down payment assistance programs. Usually offered at the regional or county level, these programs provide flexible second mortgages for first-time buyers looking into how to afford a down payment.

•  The mortgage credit certificate program. First-time homeowners and those who buy in targeted areas can claim a portion of their mortgage interest as a tax credit, up to $2,000. Any additional interest paid can still be used as an itemized deduction. To qualify for the credit, you must be a first-time homebuyer, live in the home, and meet income and purchase price requirements, which vary by state. If you refinance, the credit disappears, and if you sell the house before nine years, you may have to pay some of the tax credit back. There are fees associated with applying for and receiving the mortgage credit certificate that vary by state. Often the savings from the lifetime of the credit can outweigh these fees.

•  Your employer. Your employer may offer access to lower-cost lenders and real estate agents in your area, as well as home buying education courses.

•  Your lender. Always ask your lender about any first-time homebuyer grant or down payment assistance programs available from government, nonprofit, and community organizations in your area.

Finally, this home affordability calculator can show you how much you can afford to spend on a home.

The Takeaway

Massachusetts has programs that can help qualified first-time homebuyers get a low-interest mortgage or assistance with the down payment and closing costs. There are also federal-backed and conventional loans buyers can consider.