Explore city, state and bank programs that may help with your down payment or closing costs. Understand the conditions before building them into your buying plan.
Official sources reviewed October 31, 2026. Eligibility, underwriting, property rules and available funding apply. Maximum benefits are not guaranteed awards.
Start with the property’s location, then compare eligible costs and what happens after closing. This table is a starting point for a program or lender review—not an eligibility calculator.
Sources checked October 31, 2026. Each program name links to its official source. Lender review of this RxP comparison is pending; listed contacts have not endorsed this content.
On a small screen, swipe across the table to see every column.
| Program / location | What it may help pay | Repayment / conditions | First step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yonkers Down Payment Assistance ↗Yonkers, NY | Down payment; closing costs excluded | Deferred 0% loan; five-year forgiveness conditions | Complete the City/WRO process and obtain participation approval before a purchase contract. |
| New Rochelle Down Payment Assistance ↗New Rochelle, NY | Down payment; closing costs separate | Deferred 0% loan; five-year forgiveness conditions | Receive a Purchaser Certificate before a contract; ask WRO to clarify conflicting posted details. |
| NYC HomeFirst ↗NYC, including the Bronx | Down payment or closing costs | Assistance loan; 10- or 15-year occupancy obligations | Start with an HPD-approved counseling agency and participating lender. |
| SONYMA Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) ↗Eligible New York purchases | Eligible down payment and closing costs; some mortgage-insurance costs | 0% loan; no monthly payment; ten-year forgiveness conditions | Ask a SONYMA lender to compare the entire first-mortgage offer and assistance terms. |
| SONYMA DPAL PLUS 2026 ↗Eligible New York purchases | Eligible upfront costs under PLUS rules | Assistance loan; ask lender for the applicable forgiveness and repayment terms | Confirm current PLUS funding, income eligibility and subsidy sequencing with a SONYMA lender. |
| NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance ↗New Jersey; county-specific awards | Down payment and closing costs | 0% second mortgage; five-year forgiveness conditions | Use a participating NJHMFA lender; confirm the county award and eligible first mortgage. |
| NJHMFA First-Generation Assistance ↗Eligible New Jersey purchases | Additional assistance with the eligible NJHMFA structure | Second mortgage; five-year forgiveness conditions | Have the lender evaluate first-generation status separately from first-time buyer status. |
| CHFA Time To Own ↗Eligible Connecticut purchases | Down payment and closing costs | 0% loan; 10% forgiven annually over ten years | Ask a CHFA lender about the first mortgage, residency rules and current fund reservation. |
| CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP) ↗Eligible Connecticut purchases | Down payment and closing costs | Repayable low-interest second mortgage | Compare payments on both loans with a CHFA lender; do not assume forgiveness. |
| Bank of America America’s Home Grant® ↗Select markets; address-specific | Eligible non-recurring closing costs or permanent rate buydown | Lender credit; repayment not required | Ask Bank of America to check the property and itemize eligible expenses. |
| Bank of America Down Payment Grant ↗Select markets; address-specific | Down payment | Grant; repayment not required | Have Bank of America confirm first-time status, eligible loan and any education or tax-reporting requirements. |
| Chase Homebuyer Grant ↗Eligible areas; address-specific | Rate reduction, then eligible fees; remaining funds may help down payment on applicable loans | Bank grant; product-specific uses apply | Use Chase’s finder and ask the advisor for the permitted allocation on the actual loan. |
| Citizens Destination Home & Closing Cost Assistance ↗Eligible Citizens areas and borrowers | Eligible closing costs; other uses depend on the approved program | Terms and current assistance amount require bank confirmation | Ask Patricia which program, award and any repayment conditions apply. |
| HSBC CommunityWorks & Opening Doors ↗Eligible HSBC properties and borrowers | Opening Doors: down payment; CommunityWorks: eligible closing costs | Opening Doors: non-repayable grant; no grant lien | Ask Heather to confirm eligibility, permitted costs and whether any benefits can be combined. |
| US Mortgage Corporation — SONYMA & assistance options ↗SONYMA for eligible New York purchases; other programs must be confirmed | Depends on the specific assistance program | Depends on the specific assistance program | Ask Jessica which SONYMA and other state programs the lender currently offers. |
Ask each administrator and the mortgage lender to approve the combination, permitted costs and lien order in writing. Do not add maximum awards together or assume two programs can cover the same expense.
You do not need to know every program before starting. Use these questions to organize a conversation, then follow the administrator’s and lender’s written instructions for your specific purchase.
Use the actual property address when available. City boundaries, eligible areas, purchase-price limits and property types can change which options fit.
Ask the administrator or lender which household members, income sources, assets, residency and homeownership history count. Complete required counseling through an approved provider.
Yonkers requires participation approval and New Rochelle requires a Purchaser Certificate before a purchase contract. Other programs have their own sequences. Ask the program, lender and attorney what must happen before an offer, contract or closing.
Separate your deposit, down payment, closing fees, prepaid taxes and insurance, reserves and moving costs. Have the lender identify exactly which costs each approved source covers and which you must pay yourself.
Ask whether money is actually reserved, when a reservation expires, and what happens if closing is delayed. Confirm whether multiple benefits can be combined and how each will be applied.
Review interest, monthly payments, occupancy, forgiveness, compliance checks and possible repayment after selling, refinancing, transferring or renting the home. Keep the actual note and assistance agreement.
Share program deadlines with your attorney, lender and RxP agent. Complete property and financing reviews, keep written approvals, and send financial records only through the lender’s or administrator’s approved secure channels.
Prepared by RxP from the linked official sources. This is general preparation guidance; it does not replace a program’s application instructions or your lender’s and attorney’s advice.
Westchester and the Bronx, Bergen County, Fairfield County—and bank programs where the lender confirms availability for your address.
Showing all 15 programs and lender options.
Up to 19% toward the down payment
Zero-interest deferred loan; conditional five-year forgiveness
Where: City of Yonkers
Qualifying city connection, income and mortgage requirements apply. Closing costs are separate. Participation approval is required before a contract of sale. As checked October 31, applications are listed as coming after the November 9 information session.
Up to 19%, capped at $125,590 in posted 2026 guidelines
Zero-interest deferred loan; conditional five-year forgiveness
Where: City of New Rochelle
Income, qualifying city connection, property and mortgage requirements apply. Obtain a Purchaser Certificate before a contract. Confirm work-history rules and any new-construction value limit with WRO because the linked official materials differ on those details.
Up to $100,000 toward down payment or closing costs
Assistance loan with long-term occupancy requirements
Where: New York City, including the Bronx
Qualified first-time buyers work with an HPD-approved counseling agency. Own-funds, income, property and inspection requirements apply. Required occupancy may be 10 or 15 years; city-funded loans require 15 years regardless of amount.
Generally 3% of the purchase price, up to $15,000, or $3,000 if greater; actual-cost limits apply
Zero-interest loan with no monthly payment; ten-year forgiveness conditions
Where: Eligible New York properties, including Westchester and the Bronx
Requires a SONYMA mortgage and participating lender. Compare the full first-mortgage cost: using DPAL generally increases the first-mortgage interest rate, with specified program exceptions. Early sale or refinance can require repayment.
Up to $30,000 under the published 2026 terms
Enhanced down payment assistance loan
Where: Eligible New York properties statewide
The posted program limits household income to 60% AMI and requires qualifying SONYMA financing. Funds are first-come, first-served and may be exhausted. Ask a participating lender to confirm current funds, repayment terms and subsidy sequencing.
Up to $15,000, depending on the property’s county
Interest-free second loan; conditional five-year forgiveness; no monthly payment
Where: New Jersey statewide, including Bergen County
Must pair with an eligible NJHMFA first mortgage through a participating lender. First-time buyer, income, purchase-price and owner-occupancy requirements apply. Confirm the county-specific award before planning your cash to close.
An additional $7,000; combined assistance may total $17,000–$22,000
Interest-free second loan with five-year forgiveness conditions
Where: Eligible New Jersey purchases, including Bergen County
First-generation eligibility is separate from first-time buyer status. The published definition addresses parents’ or guardians’ ownership, household ownership history and a New Jersey foster-care pathway. A participating lender must confirm the full criteria.
Up to $25,000 toward eligible down payment and closing costs
Zero-interest loan; no monthly payment; 10% forgiven annually over ten years
Where: Eligible Connecticut properties, including Fairfield County
Requires a CHFA first mortgage and program underwriting. Applicants must demonstrate Connecticut residency for the most recent three years. CHFA posted a funding-availability update dated October 26; a lender must confirm funds when reserving a loan.
Home purchase assistance up to $15,000 under the current program page
Repayable, low-interest second mortgage
Where: Eligible Connecticut properties, including Fairfield County
Requires qualifying CHFA financing, homebuyer education and the ability to repay both loans. Ask the lender for the current rate, approved amount and complete cash-to-close comparison. This program has different repayment terms from Time To Own.
Down-payment and closing-cost assistance may be available; ask Citizens for the current award
Mortgage and assistance options; terms vary by program
Where: Eligible Citizens assessment areas; bank must confirm the property and borrower
Citizens lists Destination Home Mortgage and a Closing Cost Assistance Program. Owner-occupancy, location, income and asset requirements may apply; funds are limited and offers can change. Confirm the assistance amount, permitted uses, repayment conditions and possible tax reporting in writing. A low down payment is not itself a grant.
Opening Doors: up to $25,000 toward down payment; CommunityWorks: up to $5,000 in closing-cost assistance
Qualifying mortgage assistance; Opening Doors is a non-repayable grant
Where: Eligible properties and borrowers; HSBC must confirm geographic and loan requirements
Opening Doors is designed for use with an HSBC CommunityWorks mortgage. The full grant must go toward the down payment, with no cash back at closing; HSBC says no grant lien is recorded. Credit approval and program qualifications apply. Education may be required. Confirm current availability, eligible property types and whether benefits can be combined; do not assume a $30,000 award.
Verified SONYMA participating lender; ask Jessica Coen about suitable assistance
SONYMA mortgage and assistance options; eligibility and funding apply
Where: Ask a loan officer about your intended NY, NJ or CT purchase
New York State HCR lists US Mortgage Corporation as a SONYMA participating lender. Ask Jessica Coen which SONYMA mortgage and down-payment assistance options are currently available for your New York purchase. Eligibility, underwriting, property rules and funding must be confirmed. Other NY, NJ or CT assistance programs require separate lender confirmation; participation in SONYMA does not establish participation in every state program.
Lender credit up to $7,500 for eligible closing costs or a permanent rate buydown
Lender credit; repayment not required
Where: Select markets; bank must check the property address and borrower
This program covers eligible non-recurring closing costs, not the down payment. Bank of America financing, income, loan-product and geographic requirements apply. Compare the complete loan offer and ask the bank to confirm eligible expenses in writing.
Up to 3% of the purchase price, capped at $10,000
Down-payment grant; repayment not required
Where: Select markets; address and loan-product confirmation required
First-time buyer status and qualifying Bank of America financing are required. Not available with every mortgage product. Income, property and other bank requirements apply. Ask the bank about education, potential tax reporting and whether another offer can be combined before budgeting an award.
$2,500 or $5,000 under the current consumer product page
Bank grant applied in a defined order at closing
Where: Eligible census tracts; check the exact property address
The bank applies funds first to lower the interest rate, then to qualifying fees; remaining funds may help with the down payment on applicable loan types. Eligible Chase financing and primary-residence requirements apply. Use the bank’s current address-based finder; do not assume every home in a town qualifies.
A lender credit usually pays specified closing expenses. A forgivable loan has conditions you must meet over time. A repayable second mortgage adds a loan obligation. Compare the complete mortgage offer, including rates, fees, your own contribution and any repayment triggers.
Bank programs are available only where the bank confirms the address, borrower and loan product meet its rules. RxP is independent of these lenders and is not endorsed by them.
Start with a conversation about your financing and assistance options. You are free to choose any lender; these contacts do not guarantee approval, funding or the lowest cost.
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS #1185373
Discuss Citizens financing, closing-cost assistance and SONYMA options.
Branch Manager
NMLS #68055
Discuss SONYMA financing and which assistance programs fit your purchase.
Community Home Lending Advisor
NMLS #814244
Check address-based Chase grants and eligible mortgage options.
Community Mortgage Consultant
NMLS #967307
Discuss HSBC CommunityWorks, Opening Doors and available assistance for your purchase.
Contact details checked October 31, 2026 against the lenders’ official profiles. Loan officers and lenders confirm service areas and program availability. Submit applications and financial documents directly through the lender’s approved channels.
Ask the administrator or lender to check your household, address and current funding. Send financial records through their approved channels.
Some programs require approval before you sign a purchase contract. Coordinate with the program, lender and attorney early.
We can help align your search and offer timeline with the requirements the administrator and lender confirm.
Only if the administrators and lender approve the combination, lien order and permitted uses. Do not add maximum awards together as an assumed budget.
No. Some have city boundaries, property-value limits or census-tract restrictions. A bank branch nearby does not establish a property’s eligibility.
It depends on the written terms. A grant, a lender credit, a conditionally forgivable loan and a repayable loan work differently. Ask what happens if you sell, refinance, transfer or stop occupying the home.
Program administrators and lenders make eligibility and funding decisions. Working with RxP is not a requirement to apply.
We review official sources every two weeks and update verified changes. Check the date and official program link before relying on any terms; a review date does not reserve funding.
Choose a conversation with Felix or Aneury, or get our buyer’s guide while you explore your options.
