Ohio homebuyer resources, straight from the source
When a program figure matters, go to the agency that sets it. This page collects the official Ohio pages Mike sends buyers to most: OHFA for program rules, the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, USDA's address tool, FHFA loan limits, and your county auditor for the conveyance fee.
Where do the official Ohio links live?
Everything on the network's guide pages traces back to a primary source. Here is the short list, with what each one settles. Bookmark the two you will use most: OHFA for anything program-related and USDA for anything location-related.
| Resource | What it settles | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| OHFA / myohiohome.org | Program rules, county price and income limits | myohiohome.org |
| Ohio Division of Financial Institutions | Lender licensing, consumer complaints | com.ohio.gov Financial Institutions |
| NMLS Consumer Access | Verify a loan officer or company | nmlsconsumeraccess.org |
| USDA eligibility map | Address and income eligibility | USDA eligibility tool |
| FHFA | 2026 conforming loan limits by county | fhfa.gov |
| County Auditor | Conveyance fee, property records | Your county auditor's office |
Where can I read OHFA's official program rules?
OHFA, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, is the state body behind Your Choice down payment assistance, Grants for Grads, Ohio Heroes, and the Mortgage Tax Credit. Each program has its own page at myohiohome.org, and the county income and purchase-price limits sit on the MyOhioLimits lookup, which you search by county. When a number here and a number on OHFA disagree, OHFA is right. Check the effective date too, since Franklin, Cuyahoga, and Hamilton counties each carry their own limits and those update.
Who regulates Ohio mortgage lenders?
The Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions licenses lenders and loan originators under the Ohio Residential Mortgage Lending Act, ORC Chapter 1322, and it handles consumer complaints. It is the office to call if something feels off about a company you are working with. For a quick identity check, look the person up on NMLS Consumer Access by name or license number. Mike Certo is NMLS #260555 and Cornerstone First Mortgage is NMLS #173855.
How do I check whether an address is USDA-eligible?
USDA keeps a free map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov. Type in the exact street address and it tells you whether that spot falls in an eligible rural area. Run it early, because eligibility is address-specific, not county-wide, and a home two blocks from an ineligible line can still qualify. The Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati metro cores are out, but much of Appalachian and rural Ohio is in. The same tool checks the income cap, near $119,850 for one to four people as of 2026.
Where are the 2026 Ohio loan limits published?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency sets conforming loan limits each year, posted at fhfa.gov. For 2026 the one-unit baseline is $832,750, and Ohio is an all-baseline state, so every one of the 88 counties carries that same figure. There is no high-cost conforming county in Ohio. A loan above your county's number is a jumbo. The programs page covers how jumbo underwriting differs.
Who collects the Ohio conveyance fee, and how do I confirm it?
Ohio charges a real property conveyance fee when a deed is recorded, and the county auditor collects it, not the recorder. State law sets a mandatory $1 per $1,000 of value under ORC 319.54, and a county may add a permissive fee up to $3 per $1,000, which puts the statutory ceiling at $4 per $1,000 plus a small per-parcel fee. Rates differ by county: Franklin charges $3 per $1,000, Cuyahoga charges the full $4, and Hamilton charges $3. The seller customarily pays, though nothing in statute assigns it. The conveyance-fee page shows the county-by-county math.
Do I need a homebuyer education course in Ohio?
For OHFA loans, yes. The agency asks buyers using its programs to complete free homebuyer education, usually online or through an approved housing counseling agency. The class walks through budgeting, the closing process, and staying current after you move in. Even where it is not required, it is worth a few hours of your time for a first purchase. Ask Mike which approved provider lines up with your OHFA program, so the certificate counts toward your file.
Ohio resources FAQ
Where can I read OHFA's official program rules?
OHFA, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, publishes its buyer programs at myohiohome.org and ohiohome.org, including Your Choice down payment assistance, Grants for Grads, Ohio Heroes, and the Mortgage Tax Credit. County income and purchase-price limits live on the MyOhioLimits lookup by county. Those pages are the source of record, so when a figure here and OHFA disagree, treat OHFA as correct and check the effective date, since the limits update over time.
Who regulates Ohio mortgage lenders?
The Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions licenses and oversees mortgage lenders and loan originators under the Ohio Residential Mortgage Lending Act, ORC Chapter 1322, and it takes consumer complaints. Every originator also appears on the national NMLS Consumer Access site by license number, the quickest way to confirm a loan officer is licensed. Mike Certo is NMLS #260555 and Cornerstone First Mortgage is NMLS #173855.
How do I confirm an Ohio address qualifies for USDA?
USDA runs a free eligibility map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov. Enter the exact property address and it returns whether the spot sits in an eligible rural area. Do this before you write an offer, because eligibility is address-specific rather than county-wide, and the Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati metro cores are excluded. The same tool checks the household income cap, which is near $119,850 for one to four people in most Ohio counties as of 2026.
Who collects the Ohio conveyance fee, and how much is it?
The county auditor collects Ohio's real property conveyance fee when a deed is recorded. State law sets a mandatory $1 per $1,000 of value under ORC 319.54, and a county may add a permissive fee up to $3 per $1,000, so the statutory maximum is $4 per $1,000, plus a small per-parcel transfer fee. Real rates vary: Franklin County charges $3 per $1,000, Cuyahoga County charges the $4 maximum, and Hamilton County charges $3. The seller customarily pays, though it is negotiable.
Does OHFA require a homebuyer education course?
For OHFA loans, yes. OHFA asks buyers using its programs to complete free homebuyer education, which can usually be finished online or through an approved housing counseling agency. The course covers budgeting, the closing process, and keeping the home after you buy. It is genuinely useful for a first purchase, so ask Mike which approved provider fits your OHFA program so the certificate counts.