Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has announced that the application period for this year’s Down Payment Assistance Program is now open. Through the program, eligible first-time homebuyers are provided up to $30,000 of the purchase of a single family residence under the condition that they live in the home for at least 10 years.
"We take immense pride in contributing towards making our residents' dreams of owning a home a reality," said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “In the past we offered up to $14,000 per homeowner with the condition that they live in the home for 5 years. This year we are upping it to $30,000 per homeowner with the condition they live in the home for 10 years. This is critical to allow more people to take part in this incredible opportunity to become a homeowner.”
The program, which was launched in 1993, provides eligible, first-time homebuyers with a conditional grant of up to $30,000 to use towards their down payment. The buyer is responsible for the balance of the down payment and all the closing costs.
All prospective applicants are required to attend housing counseling prior to submitting an application, and a mortgage counseling certificate is required for applying to the
Down Payment Assistance Program. The first-time buyer qualification will be waived for U.S. military veterans who have a certificate of release or discharge from active duty (DD-214) verifying honorable discharge.
Eligibility Criteria
- An applicant must be a first-time homebuyer, which is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a household that has not owned a home during the three-year period immediately prior to the purchase of a residence with HOME funding.
- Prospective applicants must represent a low to moderate income household with an annual income not exceeding 80% of the area median income as determined by HUD, which includes an adjustment for family size; must have at least $3,000 banked at the time of application; and have a documented minimum income of at least $40,000 and be able to obtain a mortgage from a qualified lender.
- Maximums are set according to 2023 HUD income guidelines and be able to obtain a mortgage from a qualified lender.
- The maximum appraised value of an existing home cannot exceed $532,000. For a newly constructed home, the appraised value cannot exceed $555,000.
- The applicant must occupy the property as their principal residence for 10 years.
- The following kinds of housing are eligible: single family homes, condominiums, and cooperative apartments (co-ops).
Eligible areas include the Suffolk County Consortium, made up of the 5 eastern towns, Smithtown and Huntington, excluding certain villages. Islip, Babylon and Brookhaven have their own programs.
The 2023 Down Payment Assistance Program is now accepting applications on a rolling basis through March 31, 2024.