Stories of Home

Homeownership Resources

Posted on June 9, 2026

As your partner in making home possible for Ohioans, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency has resources that can empower first-time homebuyers and put their dreams of homeownership within reach.

As Fair Housing Month comes to a close, we want to recognize the importance of fair housing in Ohio. At OHFA, we are committed to educating our partners and Ohioans on fair housing laws and the resources available if you feel you have been discriminated against when trying to secure housing.

2025 Ohio Housing Conference Preview

Posted on October 29, 2025

The annual Ohio Housing Conference is only weeks away, and attendees from at least 32 states are expected to attend. OHFA and OCCH will team up to host more than 40 engaging and informative sessions for professionals in the housing industry at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on November 12-13, 2025.

How to Find a Real Estate Professional

Posted on June 25, 2025

Starting the homebuying process is an exciting time for first-time homebuyers, but it can also feel overwhelming. A key to navigating this journey is finding a real estate agent that can help you through each phase.

How to Find a Lender

Posted on June 13, 2025

Selecting the right mortgage lender is one of the most important decisions in the homebuying process. Mortgage lenders play a crucial role in helping a homebuyer understand the key financial indicators that comprise the mortgage preapproval process.

Navigating the Homebuying Process: Credit Scores

Posted on June 4, 2025

A good credit score is essential for many aspects of financial wellbeing, and the score plays a crucial role in the homebuying process. Mortgage lenders heavily rely on credit scores to assess risk and determine loan eligibility and terms.

National Moving Month: Packing Tips

Posted on May 8, 2025

Did you know that the average American moves 12 times in his/her lifetime? Experts advise starting the packing process one to two months before you move. We have suggestions to make packing and moving as painless and efficient as possible.

Financial Literacy Tips

Posted on April 16, 2025

April is all about housing with it being both Fair Housing Month and National Financial Literacy Month. OHFA wants to remind Ohioans about the importance of financial literacy and establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits as they start their homeownership journeys.

Fair Housing Month – What Is It?

Posted on April 15, 2025

For National Fair Housing Month, OHFA joins Ohio and the federal government in educating local governments, community leaders, real estate professionals, and housing associations on fair housing laws and policies to reduce the number of incidents of housing discrimination and fair housing law violations.

Black History Month – Realtists^®

Posted on February 4, 2025

Although it is mostly comprised of African American and other minority real estate professionals, the Realtist^® organization is integrated, and membership is open to all qualified practitioners who pledge themselves to the Realtist^® creed of "democracy in housing."

Holiday Preparation and Safety Tips 2024

Posted on December 4, 2024

Happy holidays, Ohio! The holiday season can be busy and we want to provide you with tips to help make sure you have a happy, fun, and safe holiday season. Holidays are a time to celebrate, and we at OHFA encourage you to do it safely.

2024 Ohio Housing Conference Preview

Posted on October 10, 2024

We at OHFA and Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing are gearing up for this year's Ohio Housing Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on November 5–6, 2024. The two-day event will include more than 30 sessions exploring trending topics in the affordable housing industry.

National Preparedness Month Steps

Posted on September 23, 2024

As September winds down we want to take a moment to remind Ohioans that it is National Preparedness Month, which reminds Ohioans to prepare for potential disasters or emergencies. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency's 2024 Ready Campaign provides simple inexpensive or free steps you can start today.

Financial Tips for Buying a Home in Ohio on National Financial Awareness Day

Posted on August 12, 2024

Buying a home is a significant financial decision. In recognition of National Financial Awareness Day, here are some tips to stay financially aware and help you navigate the home-buying process in Ohio.

My Experience with OHFA Trainings

Posted on June 20, 2024

This guest post features a Realtors® overview regarding the changing landscape within the real estate industry and how OHFA's in-person trainings can help!

Tips to Avoid Moving Company Scams

Posted on June 20, 2024

Moving can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life, but the Better Business Bureau is warning everyone to be aware of moving company scams. Following are some tips to prevent you from becoming a victim.

Prepping Your Home for Spring

Posted on April 3, 2024

The arrival of flowers, awakening of trees, and warmer temperatures mean spring is here! Spring is a great time to clean your home from top to bottom inside and outside. When creating your to-do list for this annual ritual, here are some things to consider.

Building Your Credit Score

Posted on March 29, 2024

A strong credit score is important when securing a mortgage loan, so we recently asked Ohio's housing counseling agencies for their top suggestions for individuals wanting to build or improve their credit or FICO® scores.

Women and Homeownership

Posted on March 27, 2024

Single women continue to dominate homeownership nationally despite the financial and societal obstacles that most of them face. As of January 2024, single women own approximately 2.71 million more homes than single men across all 50 states.

OHFA Partners with CONVERGENCE Columbus

Posted on February 27, 2024

During Black History Month, OHFA celebrates its partnership with CONVERGENCE Columbus, a cross-sector collective of community leaders, industry professionals, and practitioners solving challenges to Black and minority homeownership.

Improving Your Financial Wellness

Posted on January 18, 2024

January is Financial Wellness Month and a great time to set yourself up for financial success in 2024. Regardless of the economic environment, The Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary suggests you can improve your finances by implementing the following tips.

New Builds in Ohio: A Changing & Challenging Housing Landscape

Posted on November 9, 2023

Reports of the housing shortage have been dominant in the public consciousness for the past several years. At OHFA, we are identifying the various causes of this shortage and implementing programs to address it.

Fall Home Preparation

Posted on September 26, 2023

Who knew there were so many chores to prepare your home for fall in Ohio? We've created a list of do-it-yourself (DIY) tips – in no particular order to help you get started this autumn season.

Emergency Plans for National Preparedness Month

Posted on September 18, 2023

September is National Preparedness Month, and the focus of FEMA's 2023 Ready Campaign is preparing older adults for any disaster. Older adults tend to be more vulnerable as they face numerous challenges.

Help with the Heat

Posted on July 28, 2023

The dog days of summer are most certainly here, but there are ways to cool your home without breaking the bank. Energy companies and other experts suggest the following energy-saving tips listed in this blog post.

Licensed Real Estate Agents: Key in Homeownership Month

Posted on June 20, 2023

As we celebrate Homeownership Month, it's the perfect time to highlight the importance of working with a licensed real estate agent to help you navigate the real estate market in Ohio and the many benefits and opportunities that licensed real estate agents bring to make the dream of homeownership a reality.

Financial Literacy

Posted on April 26, 2023

April is National Financial Literacy month and we want to remind Ohioans about the importance of financial literacy and establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits. Good habits over the long-term help improve your credit score, increase your savings, and can help you realize your dream of homeownership.

Prepping a House for Spring: Plan the Work and Work the Plan

Posted on April 24, 2023

Spring cleaning means it's time to clean your house thoroughly from top to bottom inside and outside. Here are some lists to help you throughout the process.

Making an Impact in All 88 Counties

Posted on April 19, 2023

OHFA has an ambitious goal in 2023 – to train lending, real estate, and counseling partners in each of Ohio's 88 counties on how the Agency's programs can help Ohioans achieve their dreams of homeownership.

Women and Homeownership

Posted on March 23, 2023

Women are second only to married couples in the home buying market since the National Association of Realtors started collecting related data in 1981. Single women own approximately 2.64 million more homes than single men across all 50 states.

OHFA Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

Posted on February 21, 2023

Since its inception, OHFA has assisted 153,324 Ohioans achieve the dream of homeownership through loans, down payment assistance, and Mortgage Tax Credits and provided more than $11 billion in affordable mortgage loans. Learn more interesting facts from our 40 year history.

New Housing Tax Credit Resident Profile Helps Determine Housing Needs in Ohio

Posted on October 26, 2022

The new Housing Tax Credit Resident Profile looks at the demographics of the more than 173,000 residents living in affordable rental units in 2021 that were funded using the federal Housing Tax Credit program. This information will help OHFA and its partners determine where needs are being met and where gaps remain.

Move to PROSPER: Creating Housing Opportunities for Franklin County Families

Posted on June 6, 2022

This three-year pilot was designed to help single mothers with children under the age of 13 in Franklin County improve their quality of life by providing safe, healthy, and affordable rental housing in high resourced neighborhoods.

What is Fair Housing?

Posted on April 13, 2022

April is Fair Housing Month and marks the 54th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. Discrimination can take on many forms and is not always obvious. Knowing your rights and where to go should you experience discrimination as a renter or homebuyer is important.

Preparing to Buy a Home

Posted on March 21, 2022

In a tough real estate market, it's important to be prepared, especially if you're a first-time homebuyer. How do you prepare? OHFA can help. Here are a few tips to help make the home buying process a bit easier!

The Benefits of a Home Warranty

Posted on February 10, 2022

If you have a home or are thinking about purchasing a home, homeowner insurance is something you have researched and planned to purchase. You may also be considering a home warranty. It's important to understand how a home warranty differs from homeowner insurance and the benefits it provides.

Increasing Education Prospects and Earning Potential for LIHTC Property Residents

Posted on March 31, 2021

Researchers found roughly a quarter of all matched adult OHFA tenants had some postsecondary education or training from a public college or technical center in Ohio and that higher education or training was related to higher wages at each level.

Homeownership. Ready When You Are.

Posted on March 3, 2021

Wherever you are in your process, OHFA understands that buying a home can be both an exhilarating and exhausting experience. While there are plenty of questions to get answers to and several homes to see along the way, for eligible homebuyers our homeownership programs can help relieve some of the financial pressure.

The Dos and Don'ts of Purchasing Your First Home

Posted on June 6, 2018

Purchasing your first home can be a complicated and intimidating process with massive financial repercussions. By following the five dos and avoiding the five don'ts below, you can find the home of your dreams without a nightmarish homebuying process.

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