City of Boston
 
 
Department of Neighborhood Development
 
City Departments
1st Home Program

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The 1st Home Program provides a great opportunity for first-time homebuyers to purchase new, rehabilitated or resale single-family, two-family, or condos in Boston. View current homes for sale

What are the benefits?

  • Beautiful, affordable, new homes in great locations
  • Downpayment and closing cost assistance for eligible buyers
  • Plenty of space - including basement, porches, off-street parking and yards
Who is eligible?

Applicants generally must:
  • Be first-time homebuyers
  • Complete a certified homebuyer education class prior to purchasing a home 
  • Have enough savings to cover both closing costs and downpayment costs 
  • Have less than $75,000 in assets [see Asset Limitation Policy PDF]
  • Must have a household income that does not exceed either 80% CDBG or 120% of Area Median Income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Which properties are for sale?
  • The 1st Home program offers properties in two ways: by lottery (in which buyers for all properties are selected from the pool of applicants by a random lottery) or on a first-come, first serve basis. To see the current properties being offered, visit the Affordable Housing page

How do I apply and What happens next?

  • Apply to the The Boston Home Center
    Dowload either a general application PDF for properties offered by lottery or a first-come, first-served application PDF for all other properties. Residents may also pick up an application at the Boston Home Center. Then submit the appropriate application with all required documentation to the Boston Home Center

  • Qualified applicants will be automatically enrolled in any lottery for which that applicant meets the specific lottery requirements. If information changes after an application is submitted, applicants should notify The Boston Home Center as soon as possible and send updated documents. Also, depending on the age of the original application, applicants may be requested to update their information.  Applications may be good for up to one year


Have questions?

For more information about the 1st Home program, call:

The Boston Home Center
Department of Neighborhood Development
Phone: 617.635.HOME (4663)
Email: HomeCenter.DND@cityofboston.gov

 

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City Calendar
City Calendar See a listing of upcoming events sponsored by the Boston Home Center.
Press Releases
Video And Multimedia
Video: DND Makes Four Corners Shine for Annual Boston Shines Cleanup
Date: April 24, 2009
Description: The Department of Neighborhood Development staff participated in the annual Boston Shines neighborhood clean-up in Four Corners.
Video: Homeowner Foreclosure Prevention Workshop
Date: April 4, 2009
Description:Hundreds of homeowners came to Madison Park High School for a foreclosure prevention workshop...
Video: Homebuyer Fair
Date: February 28, 2009
Description: More than 500 residents attended the Boston Home Center's Homebuyer Fair...
Podcast: Foreclosure Prevention Workshop
Date: March 29, 2008
Description: Mayor Thomas M. Menino and U.S. Senator John Kerry talk about foreclosure prevention...
Related Links
Boston Connects Inc.External Link
Boston's Empowerment Zone
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