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First-Time Homebuyers Program

Overview

The Lakewood HOME Program provides one of the best mortgage financing packages available to qualified first time homebuyers interested in purchasing a Lakewood home. Assistance, which comes in the form of a 0% interest, no monthly payment second mortgage is used to assist with both down payment and closing costs.

In order to participate in the program, you must complete a few orientation exercises and complete a survey. After completing the survey, the City of Lakewood will email you a certificate of completion, which can be taken to any of our participating lenders to begin the process. (Receiving a certificate of completion does not guarantee funding or eligibility into the program).

Eligible Properties

  • Condominiums, Single Family and 2-Family Properties
  • Property must pass a visual paint assessment and submit to a code inspection by the City of Lakewood
  • Maximum sales value is $149,000 for a condo or single family home and $191,000 for a two-family
    • If you are attempting to purchase a new construction home, contact the City of Lakewood at (216) 529-4663. Cost limits for new construction homes are higher.

Financial Assistance Amounts

  • Up to $10,000 for a Condo or Single Family Home
  • Up to $14,000 for a Two-Family Home
  • 0% interest, no monthly payment 2nd mortgage financing
  • Repayment when property is sold, transferred or ceases to be owner occupied
  • Forgiveness schedule for two family properties only

Participating Lenders

  • Citizens Bank – Jacquie M. Kelley, 216‐221‐5207 or Dina Markos, 216‐310‐4796 or Scott Peters, 440-567-5282
  • Dollar Bank – Clifford P. King: 216‐736‐7377
  • Fifth Third Bank –  Libby Chapin: 440‐572‐5444
  • First Federal of Lakewood – 216‐221‐7300: Caroline Purcell, Thom Rankin, Mimi Rivera
  • Huntington National Bank – Robert Ware: 216-535-9310
  • PNC – Troy McMahan: 440-864-3675 or Roderick E. Hirsch Jr.: 216632-3344

Program Requirements

1. HUD Lead Assessment

This training course teaches you about the hazards of lead paint, the causes of paint deterioration, how to identify where lead paint may be in the home, and more. At the end of the training you will be prompted to print a confirmation that you have completed the course. Please save as a PDF and email to dcd@lakewoodoh.gov.

HUD Lead Assessment Course

2. Program Orientation

View the short video below, which goes over the process of completing the first-time homebuyer program. Be sure to pay attention; the video covers important details about what to look for in a home, the income qualifications, and how down payment assistance is structured.

3. Program Quiz

After watching the video, please complete the quiz located below. This quiz will help reinforce items in the program orientation and most importantly let’s know you that understand the mechanics of the program.

Program Quiz

To qualify for the HOME Program, a buyer must:

  • Be able to put down 1.5 percent of the purchase price;
  • Cannot have owned a home within the last three years (exceptions single parents & displaced homemakers);
  • Meet current federal income guidelines. Income is calculated by including all members of the household over the age of 18. 2025 income guidelines are shown below.
Household SizeMax Income
1$55,650
2$63,600
3$71,550
4$79,500
5$85,900
6$92,250
7$98,600
8$104,950

Note that income guidelines may change without notice. 

 

Eligible Properties

  • Condominiums, Single Family and 2-Family Properties
  • Property must pass a visual paint assessment and submit to a code inspection by the City of Lakewood
  • Maximum sales value is $149,000 for a condo or single family home and $191,000 for a two-family
    • If you are attempting to purchase a new construction home, contact the City of Lakewood at (216) 529-4663. Cost limits for new construction homes are higher.

Contact the Planning and Development Department for Informal Review

Residents are encouraged to contact the Planning and Development Department to discuss their proposed ADU prior to preparing construction documents and submitting any applications. City Staff can help provide guidance on the applicable zoning and building code rules and regulations.

Phone: (216) 529-6630

Email: planning@lakewoodoh.gov

Apply for conditional use permit from Planning Commission

Visit the Planning Commission page to read about the Planning Commission application process.  

Some ADU projects may require additional approvals by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and/or the Board of Building Standards (BBS). Contact the Planning & Development Department to see if your project requires additional approvals.

Verify that the property meets the eligibility requirements. 

An ADU must be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Board of Review in accordance with any applicable requirements, standards, and guidelines.

To apply for ABR, visit our CitizenServe Portal. At the bottom of the page is a section titled “Apply to Architectural Board of Review”. Click “Apply Now”, and you will then be able to log in or create an account and fill out/upload files for your ABR application. There is a $50 fee associated with this application.  

With your ABR application, please submit a site plan, plans for exterior elevations, color renderings of the building/site, cut sheets for all finishes (windows, doors, lighting, façade materials, etc.), and landscape plan.

An image of the CitizenServe webpage showing where exactly to click to apply to the Architectural Board of Review.

 

Apply for a Building Permit

A building permit is required to build a new ADU. Your project will also require electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Heat, electrical, and plumbing must be installed in all ADUs. 

View Building Permit requirements here. Building Permit applications can be submitted online via CitizenServe. 

Construction documents and permit application are required to be submitted to the Building Department.

City of Lakewood Division of Water and Sewer will require individual sanitary, storm, and water tap to separate the ADU from the primary residence.

Contact the Illuminating Company (electrical provider) and Enbridge (natural gas provider) prior to submittal to understand any specific requirements these utility companies have on separate services.

 

Request a New Address or Building Number 

Addresses will be assigned for ADUs. For example: 1234 Marlowe would have an address associated with the ADU as 1234 ½ Marlowe. The assigned ADU address needs to be posted in the yard, or on the primary structure visible from the right of way. The address change will be reported to Cuyahoga County by the Building Commissioner.

Contact the Building Department at 216-529-6270 for further instructions.

 

Pay the Plan Review Fees and complete the Review Proces

Residential Plan Approval applications can be submitted online via CitizenServe.
Plan reviews can take up to but not exceeding 30 days.

Pay Permit Fees and Activate Permits

Pay permit fees and activate permits through your CitizenServe account.

 

Verify that the property meets the eligibility requirements. 

Contact the Building Department at (216) 529-6270 to schedule inspections.
View a sample inspection checklist here.