HPD HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance
Up to $100,000 toward your down payment or closing costs — forgivable in full after 10 years of living in the home as your primary residence. You pay nothing back if you stay. Eligibility: first-time buyer (or haven't owned in 3 years), household income ≤80% AMI (~$93,360/year for a family of four in 2026). Apply through an HPD-approved housing counseling agency — not directly through HPD. Call 311 or search nyc.gov/hpd. This is one of the most powerful programs in the city and it's chronically underused.

NHS (Neighborhood Housing Services) of New York City
NHS has deep Bronx infrastructure — their advisors know the local market and, crucially, they'll help you stack programs. On top of their own $20,000–$30,000 low/zero-interest down payment assistance loans, they're an HPD-approved counseling provider (the required first step for HomeFirst). NHS Bronx: 1 East Fordham Road. nhsnyc.org.

SONYMA Mortgages
New York State's below-market mortgage program for first-time buyers. Rates run 0.375%–0.5% below conventional — on a $400K mortgage, roughly $80–$100/month in savings. Two main programs: Achieving the Dream (lowest rate, ≤60% AMI) and the Low Interest Rate Program (broader eligibility). The SONYMA Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL)adds up to 3% of the purchase price on top. You apply through a participating lender — ask specifically: "Are you SONYMA-approved?" Many lenders won't bring it up unless you do.

HPD HomeFix (for existing homeowners)
Already own and need a new roof, boiler, or structural work? Low-interest loans at 0–3% for up to $30,000–$60,000. Call your local HPD office or check nyc.gov/hpd under Affordable Homeownership.

FHA Loans
Minimum 3.5% down with a 580+ credit score. On a $350K purchase that's $12,250 — manageable when stacked with HomeFirst or NHS assistance. Most of these programs sit on top of FHA financing anyway.

The Bronx Advantage

Home prices here, while rising, are still lower than comparable Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods — meaning assistance dollars stretch further and purchase price limits are more achievable. HPD is actively investing in Bronx housing development. NHS has deep local presence. And because income limits are set against citywide AMI, Bronx household incomes fall within qualifying ranges more often than in higher-cost boroughs.

What to have ready before you apply:

Don't wait until you've found a property. Get your counseling session done, know your eligibility, and get pre-approved first. Some programs have waitlists or limited annual funding.

These programs aren't a secret — they're just buried in government websites and undersold by most mortgage brokers who make more on conventional products. The burden is on you to ask. So ask.

The Metro Intel covers money, real estate, and city life for New Yorkers.