Welcome to OHFA's resource center for lenders. We are pleased to partner with a network of lenders to provide homebuyer products throughout the state of Ohio. OHFA offers homebuyer loans, down payment assistance, mortgage tax credits and other products to qualified buyers. Our goal is to make sure our lending partners understand the OHFA loan process. We offer a variety of resources, including in-office trainings for lending staff. For questions about our programs or becoming an OHFA enrolled lender, please email this address or call 614.466.9920.
Lender Online
Participating lenders can use our password-protected online system to submit loan reservations, check loan status, download pre-filled product forms and view updates and special product announcements. Visit Lender Online to log on and get started now.
Course Descriptions
Becoming an OHFA Expert
This course will review all aspects of OHFA programs, loan processing, down payment assistance and mortgage tax credits. Eligibility criteria and program combinations will be reviewed, so mortgage professionals understand how these programs can help their clients achieve homeownership.
Mortgage Tax Credit
This course will provide an in-depth review of OHFA's Mortgage Tax Credit Program, which can save homebuyers thousands of dollars over the life of their mortgage.
Lender Online, Processing, Closing and Post-Closing
This course is presented in video format and teaches the learner how to use the Lender Online Reservation System.
Become an OHFA Lending Partner
Learn how you can take advantage of OHFA Homeownership Products to help more Ohioans achieve homeownership. Please view the participation requirements in the section below. To become a participating lender please contact:
Tom Walker
Business Development Manager
Ohio Housing Finance Agency
2600 Corporate Exchange Dr.
Columbus, OH 43231
614.466.9920
lenderinfo@ohiohome.org
Payoffs
Please call US Bank at (800) 365-7772 to request payoff information; you may also fax a request to (800) 200-8772. The 1st mortgage payoff from US Bank will include a line item showing the payoff for the 2nd. Please contact loanadmin@ohiohome.org with questions.
Grants for Grads Forgiveness
Please email an executed purchase contract or rental agreement showing an Ohio address to loanadmin@ohiohome.org to request forgiveness of remaining balance.
Subordination Policy
In an effort to assist homeowners who are trying to refinance their mortgages, OHFA has established policies regarding subordinations.
Down Payment Assistance second mortgages originated on or after 9/1/2015 cannot be subordinated due to the way the funding programs are structured. Please call US Bank at 800.365.7772 or fax a payoff request to 800.200.8772. The first mortgage payoff from US Bank will include a line item showing the payoff for the second.
Grants for Grads second mortgages originated at any time are eligible for subordination, but a borrower cannot get cash out. Please submit the required documents shown below by secure email to loanadmin@ohiohome.org or fax to 614.644.5393.
- Completed request form signed by all borrowers on the OHFA second mortgage
- Requestor's email address on request form
- Preliminary closing disclosure (no loan estimates) showing no cash to borrower
- Copy of the first page of recorded OHFA second mortgage
- Postage-paid return label
- $100 non-refundable fee to OHFA; ACH instructions will be emailed upon receipt of request
Click here for the Subordination Request Form. Allow 3 business days for OHFA to process the subordination.
For other types of OHFA second mortgages, please email the borrower name and address to loanadmin@ohiohome.org.
OHFA Products
Buyers can add one or more of the following options to an OHFA FHA, VA, USDA-RD or conventional mortgage loan:
- OHFA Down Payment Assistance
- Ohio Heroes
- Grants for Grads
- Mortgage Tax Credit
- Next Home
- OHFA Refinance Program
Downloadable Lender Documents
Product Guidelines
- Conventional Program Guidelines – Ends 6/30/25 (378 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Government Program Guidelines – Ends 6/30/25 (218 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Mortgage Tax Credit Basic (225 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Conventional Program Guidelines (326 KB Adobe PDF File) Effective 7/1/25
- Government Program Guidelines (225 KB Adobe PDF File) Effective 7/1/25
- TPO Conventional Guidelines – Ends 6/30/25 (312 KB Adobe PDF File)
- TPO Government Guidelines – Ends 6/30/25 (233 KB Adobe PDF File)
- TPO Conventional Guidelines (343 KB Adobe PDF File) Effective 7/1/25
- TPO Government Guidelines (247 KB Adobe PDF File) Effective 7/1/25
- OHFA Refinance Guidelines (303 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Lakeview Conventional Refinance Guide (425 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Lakeview Government Refinance Guide (391 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Lakeview Refinance Training Deck (1.35 MB Adobe PDF File)
DPA Updates
Over the last year, OHFA has seen a drastic increase in volume for its homebuyer assistance programs. To ensure the Agency's ability to provide Ohio homebuyers with discounted mortgage rates and down payment assistance, adjustments will be made to the homebuyer assistance programs.
Effective with reservations on or after July 1, 2025, OHFA's down payment assistance will change to 3% for Conventional loans and 3.5% for Government loans (FHA, VA, UDSA).
- Homebuyer Program Updates (975 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Loan Products FAQs (376 KB Adobe PDF File)
- OHFA Homebuyer Assistance Programs Webinar
Ohio Housing Finance Agency is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact DeHavlyn Wainwright, ADA Coordinator, no later than 48 hours prior to event.
OHFA Training Videos
OHFA Refinance Program
OHFA Training for Underwriters
Downloadable Lender Participation and Informational Forms
- Homeownership Program eSignature Policy (76 KB Adobe PDF File) New
- Lender Participation Requirements (47 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Mortgage Origination and Sale Agreement for Market Rate Program (141 KB Adobe PDF File)
- Mortgage Tax Credit Participation Agreement (217 KB Adobe PDF File)
- OHFA Response to HUD ML 19-06 (1.18 MB Adobe PDF File)