About OHFA

Who We Are

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) makes affordable housing opportunities available to low- to moderate-income Ohioans, including first-time homebuyers, renters, senior citizens, and other populations with special needs. Formerly a division of the Ohio Department of Development, OHFA became an independent state agency on July 1, 2005 through Amended Substitute House Bill (HB) 431. Our independent status allows us to institute cost-saving measures and achieve efficiencies to better serve Ohio’s long-term affordable housing needs.

What We Do

OHFA helps low- to moderate-income Ohioans purchase new homes, keep their current homes, or find quality, affordable rental housing. Through a variety of different programs, OHFA:

• Provides low-cost mortgages to homeowners and homebuyers
  Through partnerships with real estate professionals and mortgage lenders throughout the state, OHFA’s Office
  of Homeownership offers low-interest loans and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers, buyers purchasing homes in HUD’s target reinvestment areas, and homeowners looking for affordable refinancing solutions. Learn more about our homeownership programs.
• Offers financial incentives for developers to increase the supply of affordable rental housing
  OHFA’s Office of Planning, Preservation, and Development administers different funding programs, including the federal Housing Credit Program, which for-profit and nonprofit developers can use to reduce costs associated
  with developing or rehabilitating affordable rental housing. Learn more about our housing development programs.
• Helps property managers maintain safe, decent, affordable housing environments
  OHFA’s Office of Program Compliance monitors more than 1,000 tax credit properties throughout the state to ensure compliance with program regulations. Learn more about program compliance.

How We Do It

OHFA funds low-cost mortgage loans and finances the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing primarily by issuing tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. Since its inception, OHFA has issued more than $10 billion in single-family mortgage revenue bonds and $614 million in multifamily mortgage revenue bonds, resulting in $6.5 billion in mortgage loans to more than 100,000 Ohioans and the creation of more than 87,400 affordable rental housing units.