Ohio Heroes Program

Ohio heroes make a difference in our lives by working hard in critical jobs every day. OHFA is proud to offer all the benefits of our First-Time Homebuyer Program to Ohio’s heroes at a .25% lower interest rate.

Do I Qualify?

The Ohio Heroes Program is available to the following full-time employees who are:

• Active Military, Active Reserve, or a Veteran – Qualified Active Duty Service personnel include Armed Services or Reserve Forces. Qualified veterans include military members honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics – Sworn paid members of a fire department whose regular duties include fire suppression or prevention, emergency medical response, hazardous materials response.
• Health Care Workers – Certified, accredited, or licensed health care workers who are employed full-time as a medical resident or fellow, dental hygienist, nurse, nursing assistant, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, physician’s assistant, medical technician, technologist, or therapist.
• Police Officers – Individuals commissioned as a police officer by a federal, state, county, or municipal or township government, or a public or private college or university; must be sworn to uphold, and make arrests for violations of federal, state, county, municipal, or township law or respond to terrorism.
• Teachers – Individuals employed full-time by an accredited or state recognized public school, private school, or federal, state, county, or municipal educational agency as a state-certified classroom teacher or administrator in grades K-12 or higher education. Full-time instructors must teach a minimum of 12 credit hours per academic term. License and paystub from education facility required to validate credentials.

Applicants for the Ohio Heroes Program must:

• Meet OHFA’s income and purchase price limits.
• Be a first-time homebuyer—someone who has not owned or had an ownership interest in his/her principal residence in the last three years. Not a first-time homebuyer? Check out our Target Area Loan Program.
• Be creditworthy. Minimum credit scores may apply.
• Have a signed Purchase and Sales Agreement.
• Qualify for the loan being requested. Lenders will assess your ability to afford a home by considering income, assets, job stability, liabilities, and other criteria.