New York first-time home buyer: 2022 programs and grants

What to know about buying a house in New York

Buying a home in New York can look very different depending on where you want to settle down. Buying in and around NYC, for example, will cost a lot more than a remote location in upstate NY.

Regardless of location, first-time home buyers in New York state have lots of help readily available.

That can range from educational courses and free advice to financial assistance with your down payment and closing costs. Here’s how to get started.

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New York home buyer overview

The median home price in New York state was $400,000 in February 2022, according to data from the New York State Association of REALTORS. But that covers a vast range across different locations within the Empire State.

For example, the median price in St. Lawrence County that month was $120,000. But in Queens, it was $675,000. And that means where you’re buying may be way more important than statewide averages.

New York home buyer stats

Average Home Sale Price in NY	$400,000
Minimum Down Payment in NY (3%)	$12,000
20% Down Payment in NY	$80,000
Average Credit Score in NY1	722
Maximum NY Home Buyer Grant2	$30,000 forgivable loan, available statewide through SONYMA’s DPAL Plus program

Down payment amounts are based on the state’s most recently available average home sale price. “Minimum” down payment assumes 3% down on a conventional mortgage with a minimum credit score of 620.

If you’re eligible for a VA loan (backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs) or a USDA loan (backed by the US Department of Agriculture), you may not need any down payment at all.

First-time home buyer loans in NY

If you’re a first-time home buyer with a 20% down payment, you can get a conventional loan with a low interest rate. And you never have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Of course, few first-time buyers have saved a 20% down. But the good news is, you don’t need that much. Not even close.

New York home buyers can often save money upfront using one of these low-down-payment mortgage programs:

• Conventional 97: From Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. 3% down payment and 620 minimum credit score. You can usually stop paying mortgage insurance after a few years
• FHA loan: Backed by the Federal Housing Administration. 3.5% down and a 580 minimum credit score. But you’re on the hook for mortgage insurance until you refinance to a different type of mortgage, move, or pay off your loan
• VA loan: Only for veterans and service members. Zero down payment is required. Minimum credit score varies by lender but often 620. No ongoing mortgage insurance after closing. These are arguably among the most preferred mortgages available, so apply if you’re eligible
• USDA loan: For those on low-to-moderate incomes buying in designated rural areas. Zero down payment required. Credit score requirements vary by lender but often 640. Low mortgage insurance rates
• SONYMA mortgages: The State of New York Mortgage Agency offers low-cost loans and the possibility of down payment assistance to qualified borrowers. More information below

Depending on the mortgage loan you choose, you could potentially get into your new home with minimal cash out of pocket.

These programs even let you use gifted money or down payment assistance to cover the down payment and closing costs.

If you’re not sure which loan program to choose, your loan officer can help you find the right match based on your finances and home buying goals.

New York first-time home buyer programs

The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) offers statewide assistance to first-time home buyers in NY. This includes affordable mortgage loans as well as down payment assistance.

For example, its Achieving the Dream program is a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage with only 3% down. And you only have to pay 1% out of pocket; the rest can come from down payment assistance (excluding co-op buyers).

There are certain eligibility requirements to qualify for SONYMA programs, including:

• Consistent and verifiable income going back two years
• A credit history that “shows a willingness to make your payments on time”. This undefined credit score is probably around 580 or 620, depending on the type of loan you want
• Enough income to live comfortably and cover homeownership costs
• Within household income limits and purchase price limits
• You’ll use the home as your primary residence

SONYMA has a list of approved mortgage lenders; you will have to get a home loan through one of those to fully participate in its programs.

The agency also says it will put you in touch with “nonprofit housing counseling agencies across New York state to help you navigate the home buying process and prepare for successful homeownership through one-on-one counseling, homebuyer education classes, workshops, and more.”

New York first-time home buyer grants

SONYMA has two mainstream down payment assistance loans (DPALs) that are available statewide.

• DPAL
• DPAL Plus

While these are loans rather than grants, both come with no monthly payments and charge zero interest. Better yet, these loans are forgiven after 10 years.

That means you don’t have to pay back a cent as long as you remain in the home for a decade. If you move, sell or refinance that home before the 10 years are up, you’ll have to pay back 1/120th of the amount you borrowed for each month short of the 120 months that 10 years last.

DPAL

The standard DPAL lets you borrow 3% of the purchase price (up to $15,000) or $3,000 — whichever is higher.

DPAL Plus

The “DPAL PLUS” pilot program only opened for applications on April 29, 2021, and is altogether more generous. With this program, you can borrow up to $30,000 toward your down payment and closing costs.

However, the amount you borrow is capped at 20% of your home’s purchase price. By putting down 20%, you stand to get a conventional loan with no mortgage insurance payments — ever. And that’s a huge benefit.

With DPAL Plus, your income can’t exceed 60% of the area median income (AMI) where you’re buying.

Not sure if you qualify? Download this PDF from SONYMA’s website for maximum eligible incomes by county.

Note that DPAL Plus has limited funding. When it runs out of money, the program will be suspended until new funds are provided. So, if you want to take advantage of it, get your application in soon.

Other DPA options

SONYMA may well turn out to be your best bet for down payment assistance. But be sure to check out other homeownership programs in the area where you want to buy.

Resources to find local grants and loans are listed at the end of this article. You can also ask your real estate agent, Realtor, or loan officer about down payment assistance programs near you.

Buying a home in New York’s major cities

Even between big cities in the Empire State, there are wide variations in real estate prices and mortgage payments. Here’s what to expect.

New York City first-time home buyers

The median home listing price in New York City was $850,000 in February 2022, according to Realtor.com. That was unchanged year-over-year.

If you want to buy a home at that median price, your down payment options might fall between:

• $25,500 for a 3% down payment
• $170,000 for a 20% down payment

Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc (NHSNYC) offers 15-year repayable loans to help you bridge the gap between your savings and your down payment requirement. But you’ll have to make monthly payments, and interest is charged on the loan amount.

NHSNYC also has a suite of online home buyer education courses, plus a free initial consultation.

Buffalo first-time home buyers

The median home listing price in Buffalo was $160,000 in February, according to Realtor.com. That was up 6.7% year-over-year.

If you want to buy a home at that median price, your down payment options might fall between:

• $4,800 for a 3% down payment
• $32,000 for a 20% down payment

Belmont Housing Resources offers loads of counseling and coaching for homeowners in Buffalo. It also can provide financial assistance of up to $5,000 toward down payments and closing costs.

However, its website provides no information about whether that’s a repayment loan, a forgivable loan, or a grant. Nor does it provide any eligibility information or terms. So your best bet is to call a Belmont counselor at (716) 884-7791 for details.

Rochester first-time home buyers

The median home listing price in Rochester was $145,900 in February 2022, according to Realtor.com. That was up 4.3% year-over-year.

If you want to buy a home at that median price, your down payment options might fall between:

• $4,377 for a 3% down payment
• $29,180 for a 20% down payment

The Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation website says it offers closing cost assistance as well as a range of home buyer counseling services. But, again, the site provides no further details. So call (585) 461-4263 for more information.

Where to find home buying help in NY

All the organizations we’ve listed above should provide advice freely to any first-time home buyer in the state of New York.

In addition to our selection, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a few lists for statewide, regional, and local resources:

NY first-time home buyer resources by city/area:

What are today’s mortgage rates in NY?

You can see today’s live mortgage rates in New York here.

When you’re ready to buy, make sure you get interest rate quotes from at least three to five lenders. That means actually applying and getting a custom estimate — not just checking advertised rates online.

Mortgage interest rates vary a lot by borrower. So shopping around can easily save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on your home purchase. And it often takes only a few hours.

Ready to get started?

¹ Source: New York State Association of REALORS (NYSAR) report

² Source: Experian 2022 study of 2021 and 2020 data

²Based on a review of the state’s available DPA grants at the time this was written