First-Time Home Buyer in MassachusettsChris Galli & The Galli Team
Haven't owned a home in the last three years? You likely count as a first-time buyer. Buy with as little as 3% down on conventional, 3.5% on FHA, or $0 down with VA or USDA if you're eligible, plus MassHousing and Worcester assistance on top. We'll also walk you through Massachusetts' attorney-run closings.
Answer a few quick questions and a loan officer will map your best options.
Prefer to talk? Call 941-529-1040 or book a call.
Who counts as a first-time home buyer in Massachusetts?
Most programs use the three-year rule: you're a first-time buyer if you (and, for most programs, everyone on the loan) haven't had an ownership interest in a home in the past three years. Fannie Mae's definition also covers displaced homemakers and single parents whose only past ownership was jointly with a spouse. So if you sold a home four years ago and have rented since, you may qualify again. Each program sets its own fine print (MassHousing also has income limits), so Chris Galli, Region Manager at Novus Home Mortgage, and The Galli Team check the exact rule for the program you're using.
How much do first-time buyers need down, and what help is out there?
Conventional: 3% down
97% loan-to-value options for first-time buyers on a one-unit primary home. Gift funds and approved assistance can help cover it.
FHA: 3.5% down
With a credit score of 580 or higher. Scores of 500 to 579 need 10% down. FHA also allows 2- to 4-unit homes you live in.
VA & USDA: $0 down
VA for eligible veterans and service members (a funding fee may apply). USDA loans for eligible rural areas and income limits.
MassHousing: up to $30,000
MassHousing pairs its first mortgage with down payment assistance of up to $30,000 for income-eligible first-time buyers. The amount and repayment terms depend on your income and the option you qualify for. We offer MassHousing loans.
City of Worcester: up to $5,000
For first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income buying in the city, toward down payment and/or closing costs. Apply at least 45 days before closing; a three-year residency rule applies. Buying in Worcester?
Homebuyer education
MassHousing and Worcester's program both require a homebuyer course. Many agencies teach classes that meet Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative (CHAPA) standards, online or in person. Take it early.
All loans subject to credit approval. Eligibility, limits and terms vary by program and can change. Worcester city funding is limited; confirm current availability with Worcester Housing & Neighborhood Development (508-799-1400). See our down payment assistance overview for more options.
Which Massachusetts closing costs surprise buyers from out of state?
An attorney runs the closing
Massachusetts' highest court ruled in 2011 (REBA v. NREIS) that attorneys must take a real part in residential closings. The closing attorney usually represents the lender, and you can hire your own too. Expect attorney fees on your Loan Estimate.
Title insurance
A lender's title policy is required with a mortgage. An owner's policy protecting you is a separate, one-time premium most attorneys recommend. In Massachusetts, title policies are sold through attorneys.
Deed excise ("deed stamps")
The tax is $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price ($5.70 in Barnstable County). By custom the seller pays it, though anything can be negotiated in the purchase and sale agreement.
Smoke & CO certificate
State law requires a Certificate of Compliance from the local fire department for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when a one- or two-family home is sold. The seller usually arranges it, but confirm it's scheduled.
What are Massachusetts deed stamps on a $400,000 home?
Here's the deed excise math at the standard Massachusetts rate. By custom it's a seller cost, so it usually won't come out of your cash to close, but it's worth knowing when you negotiate.
| Example sale price | $400,000 |
| MA deed excise rate | $4.56 / $1,000 |
| Deed excise | $1,824 |
| Customarily paid by | Seller |
More ways we can help
How much cash will I need to close?
Enter a price, your down payment, a closing cost estimate and any assistance or seller credit to see a rough estimate of the cash you'd bring to closing. This is not a Loan Estimate.
Worked example: a $400,000 price with 3.5% down ($14,000), closing costs estimated at 3% ($12,000), no assistance and a $4,000 seller credit comes to about $22,000 cash to close (example only).
A seller credit can't be more than your closing costs and can't pay your down payment, so the estimator caps it. Programs may require a minimum contribution of your own funds, and prepaid taxes, insurance and escrow vary by town. Not a loan offer. All loans subject to credit approval.
I've been in this industry for over 29 years, and I started The Galli Team for one reason: too many good people were being told "no" by lenders who didn't know how to structure their deal.
Our Worcester office team works with Massachusetts first-time buyers every day. We compare conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and MassHousing side by side, check which assistance you qualify for, and walk you through the attorney closing so nothing catches you off guard. Because we lend nationwide and lend in all 50 states, you can buy here, in another state, or both with the same people.
Why first-time buyers choose us over big banks
Your first home deserves more than a one-size-fits-all approval. We compare every option and explain each step.
| Big Banks & Online Lenders | The Galli Team ✦ | |
|---|---|---|
| Response time | 24 – 72 hours | Within 2 hours |
| MassHousing programs | Sometimes | ✓ |
| Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA & MassHousing compared side by side | Limited | ✓ |
| Help finding down payment assistance | Sometimes | ✓ |
| Massachusetts attorney closing explained | You figure it out | We walk you through it |
| Owner-occupied 2–4 unit & triple-deckers | Limited | ✓ |
| Denied elsewhere? | No second look | We restructure your file |
| Lending states | Varies | All 50 states |
Don't take our word for it.
Real people. Real loans. Real results.
"This is my 5th property purchase and the smoothest transaction by far! I will be using Chris as my go-to mortgage lender from now on."
"Chris, Julie and Rosa were very helpful purchasing my vacation home in Florida. Available all hours. Will definitely use them again!"
"Chris and his team were great to work with. Always available, kept us updated throughout. We closed early with no surprises. Highly recommend!"
First-time buyer questions, answered.
No vague answers. We explain exactly how this works before you ever fill out a form.
Get My Free Loan Plan →Sources: Fannie Mae Selling Guide glossary and 97% LTV fact sheet (fdic.gov); HUD Handbook 4000.1 (FHA); VA.gov purchase loans; USDA Rural Development guaranteed loan fact sheet; masshousing.com down payment assistance; City of Worcester Housing Programs Overview (worcesterma.gov); Massachusetts Department of Fire Services smoke/CO guide (M.G.L. c.148 §26F, §26F½); M.G.L. c.64D deed excise; REBA v. NREIS, 459 Mass. 512 (2011); CHAPA Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative. Checked October 2026; programs and terms change, so confirm current rules.
Ready to buy your first home?
Get a pre-approval built around the program, the assistance and the Massachusetts town that fit you. Guidance over gimmicks.
Answer a few quick questions and a loan officer from our Worcester office team will map your best first-time buyer options.