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Ohio program

Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative

Ohio route through City of Cincinnati Department of Community Development. This page stays free for the core public facts. Open paid access only when you need the full state board, related paths, and the decision layer around this program.

Forgivable second mortgage Forgivable if occupancy holds 2026-04-21
Agency City of Cincinnati Department of Community Development
Support type Forgivable second mortgage
Amount highlight Current Cincinnati buyer materials show $10,000 for households at 66% to 80% of AMI, $12,000 for households at 51% to 65% of AMI, and $14,000 for households at or below 50% of AMI.
Last verified 2026-04-21

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Use 2025 buyer materials over older HUD plan caps

This page stays public because the official structure is still useful, but these details should not be flattened into fake certainty.

Current buyer-facing Cincinnati materials are stronger than the older HUD action-plan wording and now support a clean five-year forgivable-loan explanation with tiered amount caps.

Decision-ready public facts

What stays free on this program page

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Amount

Current Cincinnati buyer materials show $10,000 for households at 66% to 80% of AMI, $12,000 for households at 51% to 65% of AMI, and $14,000 for households at or below 50% of AMI.

Type

Forgivable second mortgage

Repayment

ADDI is a 0% deferred forgivable loan secured by a subordinate mortgage and promissory note. The city forgives 20% per year over five years. If the buyer sells, transfers, or stops occupying the home as a primary residence during that period, the city can recapture the unforgiven balance. The city also requires annual residency certification and can treat noncompliance as default.

First-time buyer

Required

Program guide

What to know before you click through

This is still the free fact layer. Open the official source when a detail affects eligibility, repayment, lender choice, or whether this path should stay on your shortlist.

Who qualifies?

First-time homebuyers buying within Cincinnati city limits, Households earning no more than 80% of AMI, Buyers able to secure a fixed-rate first mortgage preapproval, Buyers who complete HUD-approved homebuyer counseling before funding

What support do you get?

Current Cincinnati buyer materials show $10,000 for households at 66% to 80% of AMI, $12,000 for households at 51% to 65% of AMI, and $14,000 for households at or below 50% of AMI.

Do you repay it?

ADDI is a 0% deferred forgivable loan secured by a subordinate mortgage and promissory note. The city forgives 20% per year over five years. If the buyer sells, transfers, or stops occupying the home as a primary residence during that period, the city can recapture the unforgiven balance. The city also requires annual residency certification and can treat noncompliance as default.

How do you apply?

Start with first-mortgage preapproval, complete HUD-approved homebuyer counseling, submit the 2025 ADDI application packet to the city's Community Development office, then provide a signed purchase contract for conditional approval and closing review.

Official source evidence

Current Choose Cincy and City of Cincinnati materials show ADDI provides $10,000, $12,000, or $14,000 depending on income band, structured as a 0% deferred forgivable loan with 20% annual forgiveness over five years for first-time homebuyers buying within Cincinnati city limits.

View official source

Last verified

2026-04-21

Current 2025 Program Guide and 2025 Application Packet

Paid preview

What paid access adds for Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative

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Comparison preview

Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative

Amount: Current Cincinnati buyer materials show $10,000 for households at 66% to 80% of AMI, $12,000 for households at 51% to 65% of AMI, and $14,000 for households at or below 50% of AMI.

Repayment: ADDI is a 0% deferred forgivable loan secured by a subordinate mortgage and promissory note. The city forgives 20% per year over five years. If the buyer sells, transfers, or stops occupying the home as a primary residence during that period, the city can recapture the unforgiven balance. The city also requires annual residency certification and can treat noncompliance as default.

First-time buyer: Required

Risk checks preview

What gets flagged before you call a lender

  • Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative must be paired with a specific first mortgage.
  • Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative can trigger repayment if owner occupancy changes.

Lender questions preview

Questions tied to this exact path

  • Which first-mortgage product must be paired with Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative, and what breaks eligibility?
  • Which events trigger repayment for Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative: transfer, non_owner_occupancy?

Action checklist preview

What you would do next

  • Confirm the first-time buyer definition before you apply
  • Review the official Choose Cincy ADDI page for Cincinnati American Dream Downpayment Initiative
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What paid research already covers in Ohio

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3 tracked deeper records

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What unlocks after payment

Specific program names, source notes, current-vs-conditional judgments, and the next lender or agency questions tied to this state.

1 tracked

city and county programs

City and county down payment or closing-cost programs that never make it into the free statewide layer.

2 tracked

specialty and conditional paths

Conditional, paused, or specialty paths worth checking before you assume the state is a dead end.

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