Two Big Metros, One Price Cap, Different Income Tiers
Program and regulatory figures verified September 25, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Ohio's two other major markets are treated identically on price and differently on income, and neither comes close to the purchase price ceiling.
The numbers
| Cincinnati group | Cleveland group | |
|---|---|---|
| Counties | Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren | Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina |
| Income, 1 to 2, non-target | $109,900 | $105,000 |
| Income, 3 or more | $126,385 | $120,750 |
| Income, 1 to 2, target | $131,880 | $126,000 |
| Purchase price, one family, non-target | $566,355 | $566,355 |
Per the OHFA purchase price and income limits, Cincinnati's group sits $4,900 above Cleveland's on income. On price they are identical, both in the tier that covers every Ohio county outside the Columbus group.
Akron, Canton and the rest
Akron's counties, Portage and Summit, and Canton's, Carroll and Stark, fall into the all-other-counties income group at $98,800 for one to two people, while sharing the same $566,355 price cap. Akron's typical value was $242,459 and Canton's $219,938 in August 2026.
So a Summit County buyer has a lower income ceiling than a Cuyahoga County buyer 40 miles north, on a market that is cheaper. That is worth knowing before assuming the whole north-east of the state is treated alike. All the groups.
Where the markets are
| Metro | Typical value, Aug 2026 | Year over year |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $308,426 | +2.4% |
| Cleveland | $253,678 | +3.9% |
| Akron | $242,459 | +4.2% |
| Canton | $219,938 | +4.5% |
| Toledo | $205,237 | +3.3% |
| Youngstown | $177,110 | +5.4% |
Every one of them rose. Cincinnati at $308,426 sits $257,929 below the $566,355 cap, and the others sit further below still. The price limit is not a live test in either metro.
Where the four-unit allowance matters
Cleveland and Cincinnati both have substantial two to four unit housing stock, and OHFA permits assistance on up to four units. A buyer living in one unit of a fourplex can use the same 3% or 3.5% assistance, subject to tighter credit and DTI on three to four units.
Illinois does not allow this at all on an IHDA loan, which caps at two units. The property rules.
Target areas in both
Both metros contain designated target area census tracts, and the effect is the same everywhere in Ohio: a waiver of the first-time buyer test, and more income headroom, exactly 20% for a one-to-two-person household and about 21.7% for three or more. Cincinnati rises to $131,880 and Cleveland to $126,000 for one to two people.
Since status is set at tract level, check the specific address rather than assuming by neighbourhood. How to check.
See also eligibility and the Columbus tier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the OHFA income limit in Cleveland?
$105,000 for a one to two person household and $120,750 for three or more, effective July 1, 2026, covering Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. In a designated target area those rise to $126,000 and $147,000. The purchase price limit is $566,355 for a one-family non-target home.
What is the OHFA income limit in Cincinnati?
$109,900 for a one to two person household and $126,385 for three or more, effective July 1, 2026, covering Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties. That is $4,900 above the Cleveland group. In a target area it rises to $131,880. The purchase price cap is $566,355, the same as Cleveland.
Do Cleveland and Cincinnati have different purchase price limits?
No. Both sit in OHFA's lower purchase price tier at $566,355 for a one-family non-target home, along with every Ohio county outside the Columbus group. Only the Columbus group of ten counties has a higher cap, at $618,475. The two metros do differ on income limits, at $105,000 for Cleveland and $109,900 for Cincinnati.
Is Akron treated the same as Cleveland for OHFA limits?
No. Akron's counties, Portage and Summit, fall into the all-other-counties income group at $98,800 for a one to two person household, while Cleveland's group sits at $105,000. Both share the same $566,355 purchase price cap. So a Summit County buyer has a lower income ceiling than a neighbouring Cuyahoga County buyer.
Can I buy a duplex or fourplex in Cleveland with OHFA assistance?
Yes. OHFA permits one to four unit properties, and the borrower must occupy one of the units as a principal residence. Three and four unit purchases carry a 45% maximum DTI from a 640 to 679 credit score and 50% at 680 and above. Grants for Grads is the exception and is limited to one unit.
Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Cornerstone First Mortgage is a participating lender in the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's programs. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is an Equal Opportunity Housing entity. Loans are available on a fair and equal basis regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, disability or ancestry. Please visit www.ohiohome.org for more information. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. OHFA program terms and limits are set by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and change; figures here carry the date we verified them. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.