First-time buyers trying to break into Columbus' housing market just got a sizable assist from City Hall. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Monday that eligible residents can now tap the city's American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI), which offers help with down payment and closing costs of up to $14,999. The support comes as a deferred, forgivable loan that requires the buyer to live in the home for a set period, and it is limited to purchases inside Columbus corporate limits. City officials say the goal is to chip away at the steep upfront costs that keep otherwise mortgage-ready renters from becoming owners.
On his official Facebook, the mayor broke the process into a straightforward checklist for would-be buyers and shared the program's email and phone contact. His post lays out four steps for consumers: get pre-qualified with a participating lender, complete a HUD-certified homebuyer education workshop, choose a real estate agent and then pick a home within city limits. According to information on Facebook, city housing staff and participating lenders will walk applicants through the forms and deadlines once they are in the pipeline.
How the program works
According to the city's written guidance, the assistance amount is generally the lesser of 6% of the purchase price or $14,999. Those funds can be used for the required down payment, reasonable closing costs or to pay down the principal balance on the first mortgage. The aid is structured as a five-year deferred, forgivable loan. If the buyer stays in the home for the full five-year term, the loan is cleared. Sell or transfer the property earlier and the assistance has to be repaid from the net proceeds at closing.
The program also comes with familiar underwriting rules - including maximum debt ratios, required buyer savings and documentation of income and assets - and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. As outlined in the official guidance from the City of Columbus, participating lenders must sign a lender participation agreement before they can request ADDI funds and are responsible for submitting the application on behalf of the homebuyer.
How to apply
Prospective buyers start with a participating lender, request a pre-qualification and flag that they are interested in the ADDI program. The lender then prepares and submits the ADDI application for the buyer. Applicants must also complete a HUD-certified homebuyer education course and provide standard closing documents, including title work, an appraisal, proof of homeowners insurance and recent bank statements, before assistance can be signed off.
The mayor's post gives residents a plain-language walk-through of those four steps and the paperwork involved, while independent program trackers describe much the same timeline and requirements. For the full announcement and city contacts, residents can refer to Facebook, and for a statewide overview of similar offerings, see Down Payment Scout.
Income limits to watch
Eligibility is tied to HUD-adjusted area median income (AMI) for the Columbus metro area and varies based on household size. The city's published 2025 HUD income table lists a 120% AMI cap of about $91,560 for a one-person household and roughly $130,800 for a four-person household. Programs that rely on federal HOME dollars may set lower limits, such as an 80% AMI ceiling. The full income chart and household breakdowns are available in the official HUD income limits table from the City of Columbus.
Why it matters locally
Housing counselors and local nonprofit groups point out that down payment assistance can shave years off the time it takes renters to save for a first home and can help narrow racial and income gaps in who actually owns in Columbus. Community-driven efforts such as the Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund sit alongside city-backed programs like ADDI to widen the path to ownership, particularly in neighborhoods that have seen long-term disinvestment.
For residents who are actively shopping or just starting to run the numbers, lenders, HUD-certified housing counselors and the city's ADDI staff are often the fastest way to confirm whether they qualify, how long the process takes and whether ADDI can be combined with other local grants or loans. Independent program directories can also help buyers compare which assistance options might fit their specific situation.
Anyone with immediate questions can use the contact information listed in the mayor's post. The city's ADDI program can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (614) 645-9656.
