Home Ownership Programs
Acquisition-Rehab-50/50
- The Acquisition-Rehab program assists qualifying low-income first time home buyers in the City of Buffalo secure a grant for one-half of the rehab costs (up to $25,000.)
- Home buyer must remain in the home for 10 years and it must be their principle place of residence for that length of time.
- Download the full information
Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program
- The Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program expands home ownership opportunities by providing financial assistance with closing costs to low and moderate income first time home buyers
- A first time home buyer is defined as:
- Someone who has not owned property for at least three years prior to applying.
- A displaced homemaker.
- A single parent.
- Up to $5,000 in funding available for closing costs and down payment.
- Applicant household must be below 80% gross area median income.
- Applicant must live in home for 5 years after purchase.
- Home must be
- Within City of Buffalo limits
- A single family home
- In good condition
- Owner-occupied at time of sale
- Outside 100 year floodplain
- Cannot exceed FHA 203(B) mortgage limit for existing one family home in Buffalo: $143,000
- Download the brochure for more information
- A first time home buyer is defined as:
Home Grown Home Ownership Program
If you a first time home buyer looking to purchase a single or a double family home in the City of Buffalo, you may be interested in Home Grown. Eligible low-income, first time home buyers may be eligible to purchase a vacant home from the City of Buffalo Division of Real Estate and receive funding to make needed repairs to make the home code compliant and ready for move in. The Old First Ward Community Association, Inc. is currently assisting home buyers with processing applications for the City of Buffalo’s Home Grown Home ownership Program.
Assistance is only available for income eligible first-time home buyers who are using a SONYMA Remodel NY Mortgage and looking to purchase a single or double family home from eligible properties at the City of Buffalo Division of Real Estate.
Funding assistance is provided by the City of Buffalo/ Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency as a deferred payment, zero percent interest loan (conditional grant.) Funding assistance will only fill the financing gap, if needed. Funding assistance may be available for rehabilitation costs, related soft costs, and down payment and closing cost assistance.
Eligibility
To qualify you must…
- Be an eligible first time home buyer (have never owned a home or have not owned a home during a three-year period prior to purchase of home.)
- Be prepared to purchase a single or double family house from the eligible City of Buffalo Division of Real Estate inventory, within the legal limits of the City of Buffalo, New York to be owned and occupied by the purchaser.
- Be pre-qualified for a SONYMA Remodel NY mortgage (locally available from M&T Bank.)
- Plan to occupy the house to be purchased for at least ten years.
Complete a HUD certified home buyer education class, including programs available through Belmont Housing Resources, Buffalo Urban League, and West Side Neighborhood Housing Services.
- Have a household income of no less than 50% and no more than 80% of the area median income*, based on family size.
For more information, please contact us at 716-856-8613 ex. 103
Programs funding by the City of Buffalo/City of Buffalo Renewal Agency through the Community Development Block Grant and/or HOME Program.