Looking to Buy Your First Home?
Housing Development Fund (HDF) can help. We’ve worked with thousands of homebuyers across Connecticut and New York to make buying their first home a reality. HDF is a HUD-approved counseling agency.
At HDF, we have a variety of programs such as SmartMove, Live Where You Work, Forever Home, and services designed to help you with the home buying process. We also offer free first-time homebuyer education classes and homeownership counseling services. See below for program eligibility guidelines.
First-Time Homebuyer Counseling
At HDF, you work one on one with a HUD Certified Counselor to help you understand the process of buying a home. Together with your counselor, you will develop an action plan to increase savings, reduce debt, and identify programs to assist you with downpayment and closing costs. To start the process you need to create a portal account, fill out an intake form, submit required documentation, and pay for a credit report.
First-Time
Homebuyer Education
We offer free pre-purchase homebuyer education classes and landlord training classes to first time homebuyers loooking to buy a home in Connecticut. These classes are offered via Zoom in English and Spanish. If looking to take an online class at your own pace, you can choose to take it via eHome at http://www.ehomeamerica.org/HDF this option has a fee of $75 when using promo code HDF24.
If applying for an HDF loan program you must take a pre-purchase homebuyer education class and the landlord training class if buying a multi-family home.
Downpayment
Assistance Programs
We have a number of available lending programs to help you with downpayment and closing costs.
In many cases, HDF clients may be eligible for more than one of our programs. See available programs below.
SmartMove
CT & NY
Get up to 25% of the purchase price for downpayment and qualified closing costs at 3% interest. This loan program is for first-time homebuyers in Connecticut and New York.
Live Where
You Work CT
If buying your first home in the city where you work, you may be eligible for up to $25,000 for downpayment and/or closing costs at 0%. Remote work does not qualify for this program.
Hartford Homeownership
Equity Fund CT
If you’re a Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color (BIPOC) first-time homebuyer purchasing in the Hartford area of Connecticut, you may be eligible for up to $20,000 downpayment assistance and/or closing costs at 0%. This program is funded by private philanthropy – funds are limited.
CT Forever Home
If you’re a first-time homebuyer purchasing a home in Connecticut, you may be eligible for $28,000 downpayment assistance at 1% interest.
Other Loan
Programs
Additional loan programs for first time homebuyers may be available in specific towns and cities (amounts and terms vary).
“HDF was a pleasure to work with. They are very educated with their services and the ability to assist people achieve their
dreams of being a homeowner.”
— HDF Client—
Our Banking Partners
HDF has strong partnerships with many banks in both Connecticut and New York. These relationships help us and our banking partners help you buy your first home.
Helping Families Buy Their First Home Since 1989