Columbus Offers Down Payment Assistance for First-Time Homebuyers

The city's American Dream Downpayment Initiative provides up to $14,999 in aid to eligible residents.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:25pm

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus scene of a couple exploring a cozy, sunlit interior, conveying the joy and sense of accomplishment of becoming first-time homeowners.A new home represents stability, opportunity and the American dream for a young Columbus couple who received down payment assistance from the city.Columbus Today

The city of Columbus, Ohio has a program called the American Dream Downpayment Initiative that provides up to $14,999 in down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers who meet certain income requirements. The program, which has $1 million in funding this year, aims to help make homeownership more accessible for hardworking residents struggling with the city's high housing costs.

Why it matters

As home prices continue to rise in Columbus, the down payment assistance program is an important tool to help make homeownership a reality for more residents, especially younger and lower-income buyers who may be priced out of the market. The program builds on a federal initiative started under President George W. Bush and is funded through the city's Housing Business Tax Incentive Fund.

The details

The down payment assistance is provided as a forgivable loan, meaning homebuyers don't have to pay it back as long as they live in the home for at least 5 years. To qualify, households must earn less than 120% of the area median income, which is $104,640 for a 2-person household. The city aims to help at least 66 households this year through the program.

  • The city of Columbus began funding its own American Dream Downpayment Initiative program in 2023.
  • In March 2026, a local couple named Austin Spillman and Savanna Wooten closed on a home in Southeast Columbus using $12,500 in assistance from the program.

The players

Austin Spillman

A 27-year-old first-time homebuyer in Columbus who used the city's down payment assistance program to purchase a home with his fiancée.

Savanna Wooten

A 25-year-old first-time homebuyer in Columbus who used the city's down payment assistance program to purchase a home with her fiancé.

Andrew Ginther

The mayor of Columbus, Ohio who is encouraging eligible first-time homebuyers to apply for the city's down payment assistance program.

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What they’re saying

“The day we closed on the house, we walked in, we got the keys and we just had these huge smiles on our faces. It's truly unbelievably. Even now, when we walk into the house, we're like 'Oh, wow, we own this house. It's ours.'”

— Austin Spillman, First-time homebuyer

“Everybody where I go in Columbus, people are talking about affordability. This is really geared toward folks who are working hard, playing by the rules but are really being challenged by the housing market in Columbus.”

— Andrew Ginther, Mayor of Columbus

What’s next

The city's American Dream Downpayment Initiative program is accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis for the $1 million in available funding this year.

The takeaway

Columbus' down payment assistance program is an important tool to help make homeownership more accessible for first-time and lower-income buyers struggling with the city's high housing costs. By providing forgivable loans of up to $14,999, the program aims to open the door to stable housing and build wealth for more residents.