Assistance program · Oregon
OHCS Down Payment Assistance
Oregon state funds for the down payment and closing costs, delivered by local organizations: up to $60,000 or 20% of the price, sometimes as a grant or as a forgivable second mortgage, for first-time or first-generation buyers with income up to 100% of the area median
At a glance
- Kind of help
- Grant · Forgivable
- Grant you never repay
- First-time buyer?
- Not stated — ask
- The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Grant you never repay
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
What it gives
Source text
In some instances, DPA funds are provided in the form of a grant or forgivable second lien. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
They must also complete First-Time Homebuyer Education and meet with a certified housing counselor. - First-time buyers only Not stated — ask
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit A flat cap; see the source
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of Oregon
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Oregon
The program covers all of Oregon. The first column is Oregon's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The typical home value ($477,600) fits within Oregon's FHA limit ($541,287).
| Figure | Oregon | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $477,600 | $189,300 (Gilliam County) to $660,000 (Hood River County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Baker County) to $762,450 (Hood River County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 36 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $71,200 | $66,900 (Coos County) to $102,650 (Yamhill County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Check the income cap
The program uses a fixed cap. Its page says what it is and which income counts.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. Oregon has 25 agencies on HUD's list, and 18 serve people in Spanish.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 9 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Oregon Housing and Community Services.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- What is the most it gives, and how is it calculated?
- Is it only for first-time buyers?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- Is there any case in which the grant has to be paid back?
- After how many years is the loan forgiven, and what happens if I sell or refinance before then?
Against the others
How it compares with Oregon's other programs
The 3 programs we checked in Oregon, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is the only one of Oregon's 3 programs whose page does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Its page publishes no amount with a figure; 2 of the 3 do. It is the only program in Oregon on our list with "grant" help. 2 of the 3 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHCS Down Payment Assistancethis program | Grant · Forgivable | Not published | Doesn't say | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| FirstHome (Flex Lending) | Type not stated | Up to 5% of the loan | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| NextStep (Flex Lending) | Type not stated | Up to 5% of the loan | No | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.