Increase your buying power in New York
53 homebuyer assistance programs in New York put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 53 programs tell us about buying in New York
New York City pays the most
HPD’s HomeFirst offers up to $100,000 toward down payment and closing costs for homes in the five boroughs.
Long Island and the Hudson Valley run deep
Brookhaven, Babylon and Nassau County offer up to $50,000, Community Housing Innovations up to $60,000, and RUPCO up to $75,000 in Ulster County.
SONYMA covers everywhere else
The State of New York Mortgage Agency’s DPAL pays 3% of the price up to $15,000, and DPAL Plus up to $30,000, both at 0% with no monthly payments.
How the help arrives · 53 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
4 more pay a percentage of the price or loan, which scales with the home you buy. Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
13 programs are available statewide. 40 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 53 New York programs and 28 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in New York
A few of the 53 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL)
State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA)The greater of 3% of the price (up to $15,000) or $3,000, for down payment, closing costs and repairs, with a SONYMA mortgage.
DPAL Plus ATD
State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA)Up to $30,000 toward down payment and closing costs, sized to bring the first mortgage down to 80% of value.
HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance
NYC Housing Preservation and DevelopmentUp to $100,000 for first-time buyers up to 120% of area median income, on 1 to 4 family homes, condos and co-ops.
First Time Homebuyer Grant Program
Community Housing InnovationsA grant sized to household income, for first-time buyers up to 110% of area median income.
Town of Babylon Down Payment Assistance
Long Island Housing PartnershipUp to $50,000 at 0% for first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income.
Ulster County First-Time Homebuyer Grant
RUPCO$25,000 to $60,000 or more based on household size and income, for first-time buyers.
28 multi-state programs also serve New York
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
FHLBank New York Homebuyer Dream Program Wealth Builder
Forgivable loan · 2 states Check eligibilityThese are 4 of the 28 multi-state programs open to New York buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in New York
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every New York program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
New York homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in New York?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 33 New York programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $25,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
33 of the 53 active programs (62%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 10 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 17 of the 53 New York programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 3 programs we track in New York are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. New York has 13 programs available statewide and 40 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in New York, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. 3 programs we track are currently paused, out of funds or waitlisted and not counted on this page. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.