Homebuyer and homeowner resources

Find housing programs, financial help, and mortgage assistance

The Department of Housing (DOH) and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) work together to help you.

Whether you want to buy your first home or keep the home you have, we have the free tools and official rules you need.

  • Homebuyers: Review our down payment programs, read our step-by-step guides, find local lenders, and track your loan application.
  • Homeowners: Find workshops to stop foreclosure, get cash to test your foundation, and connect with a free housing counsellor.

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Connect with CHFA program directories and approved lenders  

CHFA first-time homebuyer guide

Ready to buy your first home? Follow these 8 steps

Buying your first home is a major milestone and a valuable long-term investment. Before you apply for a mortgage, read our step-by-step guide to buying a home in Connecticut. The guide will walk you through how to:

  • Attend free workshops
  • Find approved lenders
  • Access forgivable down payment funds

Homebuyer programs and tools

Get down payment help with the Time to Own program

Saving for a down payment is often the hardest part of buying a home, but you don’t have to do it alone. To help with these upfront costs, Connecticut offers the Time to Own program. This State-backed initiative gives eligible buyers a 0% interest loan of up to $25,000 that can be fully forgiven. You can use it to cover your down payment and closing costs.

We’ll help you navigate the loan application process, with tools to:

  • Find an approved lender near you.
  • Track your active loan application online.
  • Use our map to check income limits in your town.

Foreclosure prevention resources



Emergency homeowner resources

If you are falling behind on your mortgage payments, you do not have to handle it alone. Connecticut offers free programs, job training, and legal clinics to help you save your home.
Explore all foreclosure prevention resources  


Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP)

Need help paying your housing costs due to an unexpected hardship? EMAP provides emergency financial aid to bring your accounts current. It can even assist with monthly payments to prevent foreclosure.
Check your eligibility for EMAP assistance  


Free one-on-one counseling

Connect with a housing counselor at no cost to you. A professional will look at your finances, explain your rights, and work with your mortgage lender to make a plan for you to keep your home.
Find a certified housing counseling agency near you  

Crumbling Foundations Program

State-backed aid for a crumbling foundation

More than 35,000 homes in northeastern Connecticut face foundation failure. This happens because a mineral called pyrrhotite makes the concrete slowly break down when it touches water and air.

If your home was built or expanded between 1983 and 2015, the State will help pay for foundation testing. The program provides a 100% reimbursement for a visual inspection by a licensed engineer (up to $400) and a 50% reimbursement for CORE testing (up to $2,000).

For personal help, contact Homeowner Advocate Lena Holleran at:

Check eligibility and apply for crumbling foundation testing funds  

Get in touch

Contact the CT Department of Housing

Mailing address:
505 Hudson Street
Hartford CT 06106-7106

Phone: 860-270-8262
Fax: 860-706-5741
Email: TK

If you are experiencing a housing crisis, call 211.
Find full DOH contact information