By Mark Dunn | June 23, 2026

Most buyers in Columbus are focused on saving for a down payment — and missing out on a program that could hand them thousands of dollars toward it.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency runs a down payment assistance program called Your Choice! that's available right now. You can get 2.5% or 5% of your home's purchase price applied directly toward your down payment or closing costs. On a $350,000 home — the Columbus median in May 2026 — that's $8,750 to $17,500 you don't have to bring to the table.

It's forgiven after seven years. And most buyers I talk to have never heard of it.

If you're a veteran, the stack gets even better — but we'll get to that.

By Mark Dunn | June 23, 2026

Most buyers in Columbus are focused on saving for a down payment — and missing out on a program that could hand them thousands of dollars toward it.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency runs a down payment assistance program called Your Choice! that's available right now. You can get 2.5% or 5% of your home's purchase price applied directly toward your down payment or closing costs. On a $350,000 home — the Columbus median in May 2026 — that's $8,750 to $17,500 you don't have to bring to the table.

It's forgiven after seven years. And most buyers I talk to have never heard of it.

If you're a veteran, the stack gets even better — but we'll get to that.

How the OHFA Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance Program Works

The Your Choice! program is run through Ohio's state housing finance agency, and it works alongside your regular home loan — whether that's a conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA loan. You're not choosing between your mortgage and this program. You get both.

Here's the basic structure:

• Assistance amount: 2.5% or 5% of the home's purchase price
• Use it for: Down payment, closing costs, or other pre-closing expenses
• Forgiven after: 7 years, if you stay in the home
• Repayment rule: If you sell or refinance before 7 years, you repay the full assistance amount
• How to access it: Through an OHFA-approved lender — not all lenders participate, so you need to ask specifically

That forgiveness clause is the key piece. This isn't a loan you're slowly paying off. After seven years in the home, the balance disappears entirely. For buyers who plan to stay put — and most people in Columbus do — it's essentially a grant.

Who qualifies?

To use the OHFA Your Choice! program in Franklin County (Columbus metro), you'll generally need to meet these requirements:

• Income: No more than $114,400 (1-2 person household) or $133,100 (3+ person household)
• Credit score: 640 minimum for conventional, VA, USDA, and FHA 203(k) loans; 660 for FHA 203(b)
• First-time buyer status: You haven't owned a primary residence in the past three years (veterans and buyers in certain target areas may be exempt)
• Homebuyer education: Complete a course from a HUD-approved agency before closing
• Loan type: Must be financing with a loan type that OHFA supports (conventional, FHA, VA, USDA)

Those income limits cover a wide range of Columbus buyers — the median household income in Columbus is well below both thresholds. If you're unsure whether you qualify, the fastest way to find out is to call an OHFA-approved lender and have them run the numbers. You can find participating lenders at myohiohome.org or by calling 888-362-6432.

What Veterans Get Through Ohio Heroes (And Why It's Better Than Most Realize)

If you're an honorably discharged veteran, active-duty service member, or reservist, Ohio has a second layer of benefit that goes on top of the Your Choice! assistance.

It's called the Ohio Heroes program, and it gives qualifying public service workers — including veterans — a discounted mortgage interest rate below the standard OHFA rate. Teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters also qualify, but the program was built with military service in mind.

Here's what makes it powerful: you can combine Ohio Heroes with the Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance. That means a veteran buyer in Columbus could walk into closing with:

• A lower-than-market interest rate through Ohio Heroes
• 2.5% or 5% of their purchase price covered by the DPA program
• This on top of any VA loan benefits they're already using

I work with a lot of veteran buyers across Central Ohio, and this combination comes up in almost every conversation once they know it exists. The issue is that most lenders lead with the VA loan — which is excellent — but don't mention the state-level programs that can stack on top.

If you're a veteran who's been thinking about buying in the Columbus area, this is worth a real conversation. You can see more about how I work with military buyers at markdunnrealtor.com/military-va.

One thing to confirm with your lender: not every OHFA-approved lender offers the Ohio Heroes rate in combination with all loan types. Get clarity on this before you commit to a lender — it matters.

The Practical Part: How to Actually Use This

The single biggest barrier to OHFA assistance isn't income or credit score. It's lender access. Not every lender in Columbus participates in the OHFA program, and some lenders who do participate don't mention it unless you ask directly.

When you're shopping for a lender, ask this exact question: "Are you OHFA-approved, and can I use the Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance with the loan I'm considering?"

A lender who knows what they're doing will give you a direct yes or no. If they seem unfamiliar with the program, that's useful information too — it tells you to keep looking.

There's also a homebuyer education course requirement. This is a one-time, typically a few-hour course from a HUD-approved agency, and it needs to be completed before your closing. OHFA has a list of approved providers on their website, and many are available online. It's worth doing early in your process rather than scrambling to complete it the week before closing.

One more practical note: OHFA program funding isn't unlimited. As of late 2025, most of Ohio's assistance programs still had available funds — but programs do periodically reach capacity. If you're planning to buy in the next few months, this is worth moving on sooner rather than later.

If you're navigating the Columbus market and want help thinking through whether OHFA assistance makes sense for your situation, I'm happy to walk through it with you. Reach out at markdunnrealtor.com/contact-us and we'll map out your options together.

And if you're still weighing whether now is the right time to buy at all, my post on renting vs. buying in today's market covers how to think through that decision. When you do decide to move forward, there are also some important buyer mistakes worth knowing before you start — including some that affect your ability to qualify for DPA programs.