MassHousing Down Payment Assistance: Eligibility and How to Apply
Learn how MassHousing down-payment assistance works, what it can cover, common eligibility rules, repayment triggers, and how to apply through a lender.
What the assistance can do
Eligible funds may reduce the cash needed for a down payment and permitted closing expenses. That can preserve savings for reserves and repairs, but it does not make an unaffordable monthly payment affordable.
- Available through participating MassHousing lenders
- Subject to income and first-mortgage eligibility
- May be used in cities and towns across Massachusetts
- Repayment terms vary by assistance product
How to apply
You do not apply by submitting a general grant form on your own. Contact a participating lender, ask to be evaluated for the current MassHousing mortgage and assistance products, and complete the required underwriting and education steps.
- Compare at least two participating lenders
- Request a written Loan Estimate
- Ask whether the assistance changes the interest rate or fees
- Confirm the second-loan balance and repayment events
- Verify the lock deadline and funding availability
Questions to ask before accepting
Ask what happens if you refinance, sell, pay off the first mortgage, or stop occupying the property. Compare the assistance package with a conventional loan, ONE Mortgage, and any municipal program. The option requiring less cash today may not have the lowest total cost.