Send Us the Scenario and We Will Run It
Program and regulatory figures verified September 25, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Five programs, and which one fits usually turns on a detail people do not think to mention. So mention everything.
What to send
- The county the property is in. The subject property county sets the income limit, not where you live now.
- Household income for everyone who will both live there and be on the loan. If someone is co-signing without living there, say so separately, because they are counted differently.
- How many people will live in the home. Three or more raises the non-target limit by 1.15; if the address is in a target area we use OHFA's published target three-or-more limit.
- Ownership history in the last three years.
- Anything that opens a program: military service including reserves, a Heroes occupation, or a degree within the last 18 months.
- An address, if you have one. We will check target-area status with you.
What you get back
Which of the five OHFA first mortgage programs your household clears, what the assistance comes to at your price point, what the assistance is secured against in your case, and the honest answer if none of them fit yet and what would change that.
If the answer is that you are in the FTHB Edge band rather than under the standard limit, we will say so plainly. What the band means.
The three questions we get most
Can someone co-sign? Yes, on a one-unit property, and their income stays outside the OHFA limit because they will not live there. The rule.
What if I sell early? On the standard assistance, the whole amount is repayable before the seventh anniversary. On Grants for Grads, selling is forgiven if you keep living in Ohio. The difference.
Do I need my own money? Only what your loan type requires. OHFA adds no minimum of its own. The full test.
Reach us
OHFA publishes its own program information at OHFA's down payment assistance page. Call (480) 296-6513 or send the form. Our team reviews every Ohio scenario and reaches out shortly, usually with a read on which programs fit and what the next step is.
Mike Certo, NMLS #260555. Cornerstone First Mortgage, NMLS #173855, a participating lender in the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's programs. Equal Housing Lender.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out which OHFA program I qualify for?
Send us the county the property is in, household income for everyone who will both live there and be on the loan, how many people will live in the home, ownership history over the last three years, and anything that opens a specific program such as military service, a Heroes occupation or a degree within 18 months. We run all five OHFA programs against the current limits.
Do I need an address before you can help?
No, but it helps. Without one we can run the county income limits and tell you which programs fit. With an address we can also check target-area status, which raises the income limit, by exactly 20% for a one to two person household, and waives the first-time homebuyer requirement, both of which can change the answer entirely.
Is there any obligation if I contact you?
No. We will tell you which OHFA programs your household clears and what the assistance comes to, including the answer that none of them fit yet and what would need to change. There is no obligation to apply and no pressure to.
How quickly will someone respond?
Our team reviews every Ohio scenario and reaches out shortly, usually with a read on which of the five OHFA first mortgage programs fit your household, what the assistance would be at your price point, and what that assistance is secured against in your particular case.
Do you lend across all of Ohio?
Yes, statewide across all 88 counties. Because all 88 sit at the same $832,750 conforming loan limit and most share the same $566,355 OHFA purchase price cap, the county matters mainly for your income limit. Union County carries the highest at $146,700 and 58 counties share the $98,800 floor.
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.