Oregon first-time home buyer programs
Oregon Housing and Community Services list 4 programs that help buyers in Oregon with the down payment or closing costs. Amounts and terms are shown as the agency publishes them.
- Programs from the agency
- 4
- Biggest amount listed
- $60,000
- First-time buyers only
- 3 of 4 programs
- Income caps
- 100% of area median or $125,000
Down payment assistance programs in Oregon
| Program | Amount | Grant or loan | Income limit | First-time buyers only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program. homebuyer course. | Up to 20% of the price, at most $60,000 | Grant or forgivable loan: Sometimes given as a grant, sometimes as a second loan that can be forgiven. | Household income must be at or below 100% of area median income (AMI). | Yes |
| Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) / Veteran DPA. Only for veterans and their families, including the spouse of a deceased veteran. | Up to $60,000 | Grant | Your income must be at or below 100% of the area median income. | Yes |
| FirstHome (Flex Lending). With the FirstHome mortgage loan from OHCS Flex Lending, through an approved lender. | Up to 5% of the home loan | Forgivable or repayable loan: A Flex Lending second loan: either forgiven, with no payments and no interest, or repaid in regular payments. | Income limit uses your county's area median family income, as set by HUD. | Yes, with exceptions |
| NextStep (Flex Lending). With an OHCS NextStep first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae HFA Preferred or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage); credit score 620+; homebuyer course. | Up to 5% | Forgivable or repayable loan: Forgiven at the end of the term if your income is at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI); otherwise repaid monthly over 10 to 30 years. | Your income must be $125,000 or less. | No |
Usually, "first-time buyers only" means you haven't owned a home during the past three years, though every program sets a rule of its own. The name of each program links to a Oregon Housing and Community Services page that says whether applications are open right now. The agency also maintains its own list of participating lenders. Compare down payment assistance programs across all states, or ask a lender that works with Oregon's programs.
How do you repay Oregon's programs?
- Grant: money you never pay back, used for the down payment or closing costs.
- Forgivable loan: keep the home and its first mortgage for the set years, and this second loan is written off.
- Repayable loan: a small second mortgage you pay back monthly, usually along with your first mortgage payment.
How does your income compare with Oregon's caps?
Every program has its own income cap, which the table shows, and the exact chart is on that program's agency page. Use the HUD income limits lookup (FY2026) to find the figure for your county and household size. If a program relies on its own county chart or Freddie Mac's, the result can differ from HUD's number, and the agency's chart decides.
| HUD area | Median family income | HUD low-income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $128,300 | $102,650 |
| Salem | $103,400 | $81,450 |
| Corvallis | $125,000 | $100,000 |
| Bend-Redmond | $120,200 | $96,150 |
| Medford | $98,100 | $78,500 |
Talk to a lender that works with Oregon programs
These programs are paid out through the agency's approved lenders, so the lender is your next step. Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with Oregon's programs can explain which ones fit you.
Rather not call? Send your details and the lender will reach you.
Are you buying near a state border?
California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington or programs for all 50 states plus DC.