BHA First Home Program

The BHA First Home Program is an extension of the Section 8 to Homeownership Program. Any BHA Section 8 household interested in using their Section 8 rental voucher towards a home purchase within a town/city within the BHA jurisdiction must submit an application, to view all towns/city covered under BHA jurisdiction please click here. If the household purchases a home in Boston they can be eligible for enhanced down payment assistance provided by the City of Boston.  To view other resources for down payment and first time homebuying assistance throughout the state of Massachusetts please visit My Mass Home.

If you are a BHA Section 8 Participant seeking to use your current rental voucher towards purchasing a home, you MUST submit an application to the BHA First Home Program. In order to be eligible your household must be in good standing with BHA, in compliance with all Section 8 requirements AND meet all first time home buying readiness requirements which include minimum income, savings, credit score, and employment requirements.  You can view all Section 8 Homeownership requirements via the application page. 

If you are a BHA Public Housing Tenant or another type of tenant at the BHA please follow the steps below if you are seeking to utilize the enhanced down payment assistance provided by the City of Boston to BHA homebuyers.

1. You will need to shop for a mortgage through an approved City of Boston Lender, view the list HERE

2. After you have a mortgage pre-approval with a City of Boston approved lender you would begin shopping for a home

3. Once you have an accepted offer on a property that is located in Boston you will need to send a copy of the accepted offer on the property to this email: firsthome@bostonhousing.org

4. The BHA First Home Team will verify your BHA public housing tenancy and will send a tenant verification form to the City

5. The City will work with you lender to approve the enhanced down payment assistance for your mortgage loan

6. You do not need to submit an application to First Home Program as this application is only for Section 8 screening, you simply need to email firsthome@bostonhousing.org IF you have an accepted offer on a property

7. To learn more about the first time homebuying down payment assistance provided through the City of Boston please visit Boston Home Center or to explore other first time homebuyer and down payment assistance programs if seeking to buy a home throughout Massachusetts please visit My Mass Home

I am not a tenant of BHA, How do I port into BHA? 
If you are currently a Section 8 voucher participant at another housing authority and seeking to port into the BHA for homeownership please be aware of the two following requirements:

1. You MUST currently already be a Federal HCV Section 8 voucher participant (Not MRVP/non federal voucher) as only federal vouchers are eligible for the homeownership option 
2. Once porting is complete you would need to be a Section 8 participant tenant for 12 months at the BHA before being eligible to apply to homeownership option

In order to port into BHA from a different housing authority you will need to complete the following:

• BHA is only billing housing authorities to allow tenants access to BHA's jurisdiction. Your current Housing Authority will still be responsible for paying for the cost of your voucher to BHA.
• If your Housing Authority agrees to port your voucher to BHA, they will send all relevant and required documentation, porting package to email address Paul.Acampora@bostonhousing.org in order to begin the port process. Once the port is received, the intake team will send some forms back and forth to your Housing Authority as part of any normal Port process.
• Once ported into BHA, you will need to rent with BHA for a minimum of 12 months prior to being eligible to apply to our First Home Program. Applying to the homeownership program does not guarantee enrollment/successful home purchasing, you must meet all homebuying readiness requirements along with Section 8 requirements and responsible for finding a home and securing the purchase.

 

First Home Program Overview

BHA’s First Home Program is a partnership with the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing where the City is providing eligible BHA residents with enhanced down payment assistance of $75,000 for a home purchased within the City of Boston. This program benefits all BHA tenants already residing in Boston or BHA Section 8 households currently living outside or employed outside of Boston but seeking to purchase in Boston.

Do I have to buy in Boston?

To receive the $75,000 assistance you must purchase in Boston.

I am a BHA Section 8 Household but I want to buy outside of Boston.

You must submit an application and if you meet all Section 8 Homeownership requirements you have the option to use your voucher towards a mortgage in any town/city covered under BHA jurisdiction which is listed on the BHA payment standard chart.

I would like general first time homebuying information.

Please visit the website mymasshome.org to find first time homebuying resources for Boston and throughout Massachusetts.

How many BHA households has the program served?

As of October 2024, the BHA First Home Program has supported 58 BHA households in purchasing their first home with 52 of those households purchasing a home within Boston. 

What happens after I submit an application?

Only BHA Section 8 households need to submit an application. Once BHA receives your application it will be screened for eligibility and an email notification will be sent within two weeks to notify status and/eligibility. It is important to make sure you complete your application carefully and upload all required documents for timely processing.

Who do I contact if I have more questions? Please consult the program FAQ guide please note majority of the information in this guide pertains to Section 8 Households and Section 8 requirements. You can also email questions to: firsthome@bostonhousing.org
 

The information below is ONLY for current BHA Section 8 Households seeking to use their current Section 8 Rental voucher towards purchasing a home. 

If you are a current BHA Section 8 Household seeking to use your rental voucher towards a mortgage, please follow the steps below:

1. APPLICATION: If you meet all Section 8 Homeownership requirements at this time (see all requirements below), you can submit an Application 
2. ELIGIBILITY REVIEW: BHA will review your household eligibility within 2 weeks from receiving your application
3. MORTGAGE SHOPPING:If your household meets all Section 8 Homeownership requirements BHA will issue you a letter regarding next steps to obtain mortgage pre-approval with an approved lender
4. ACCEPTED OFFER ON PROPERTY: If you enter into an accepted offer on a property within the required timeframe of up to 120 days your household eligibility is reassessed at the time of an accepted offer  to ensure we have captured any changes to household income/composition to ensure your household still meets all requirements for Section 8 Homeownership prior to closing on the home purchase. You will receive a link to complete all home closing requirements.
5. INSPECTIONS:Every household will need to complete multiple property inspections on the home to be purchased
   1. An independent inspection with a vendor of you choice paid out of pocket, you will attach this inspection report to Step 2 below to initiate the BHA required inspection
   2. The BHA required inspection which is scheduled once you submit the RFTA form to BHA
   3. LEAD PAINT: if you have a child age 5 or younger in your household and the home you seek to purchase was built prior to 1978 you will need to obtain a lead letter of compliance to verify the home meets lead safety requirements.  Any lead removal required must be paid out of pocket and completed prior to being approved to close on the home!
6. At the time of home closing you will need to submit all updated income and asset sources for ALL members in your household for income recertification. It is important to follow all procedures carefully to reduce mistakes or delays to your eligibility or finances
7. To view the entire Section 8 to Homeownership process and requirements please click this link: STEP by STEP guide 

How do I estimate what my HAP would be if I buy a home?

Section 8 Participants and Mortgage Lenders can use the HAP calculator below to estimate the amount of HAP for zip codes under BHA payment standard. 
Boston Housing Authority Section 8 to Homeownership Calculator

1. Be a current BHA resident (meaning you have an active recertification completed by your BHA leasing officer with an effective rent) AND in Good Standing, meaning you do not owe an outstanding balance to BHA
2. Be employed working at least 30 hours per week (unless elderly or disabled)
3. Have at least $4,000 saved
4. Have a credit score above 650
5. All household members on your lease have not owned a home or owned interest in a home within the past 3 years
6. Completed a first time home buyer course within the last 3 years
7. Meet the minimum income requirement below based on your household size.

• Household of 1, annual income of at least $49,100
• Household of 2, annual income of at least $56,100
• Household of 3, annual income of at least $63,100
• Household of 4, annual income of at least $70,100
• Household of 5, annual income of at least $75,750
• Household of 6, annual income of at least $81,350

 

BHA First Home Video for Section 8 Participants