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Massachusetts Program Will Offer Down Payment Help for First-Time Homebuyers. Here's Who Is Eligible.
MassHousing will expand assistance to about 1,000 families, offering $25,000 interest-free down payment loans that can be repaid when homes are sold or refinanced.
On Tuesday, Governor Maura Healey announced an expanded first-time homebuyer assistance program offering up to $25,000 at 0% interest with deferred repayment for applicants who lock in a MassHousing mortgage before July 31, 2026.
Previously, MassHousing offered these funds as 15-year second mortgages with interest rates ranging from 2 to 3 percent; the administration is now using $25 million in existing capital to provide interest-free loans.
MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay expects the expansion to help approximately 1,000 additional families, with eligibility open to households earning up to 135% of their area's median income.
Following a UNH Survey Center poll where 53% of respondents disapproved of Governor Healey's housing handling, Housing Secretary Juana Matias stated the 0% interest rate could save buyers "up to $31,000 over the life of the loan."
Governor Healey noted the state has "100,000 homes in the pipeline" to address housing shortages, part of a broader affordability strategy involving a Massachusetts Homeownership Tax Credit providing up to $10 million annually through 2029.