Community Development

Even if you haven’t found a home yet, you can still protect yourself from rising rates by getting a Third Federal Preapproval. And if mortgage rates fall even lower, you can receive the lower rate just by asking. Plus, with Third Federal, you’ll receive our fully underwritten preapproval, not just a prequalification.

With a Third Federal HomeReady Purchase Mortgage, you can get a new home loan from $10,000 - $200,000, and use grants and other funds towards your down payment. Plus you get these great benefits:

1. As little as 3% down
   You can put as little as 3% down on a single family home, which can include down payment assistance, gifts, funds or other assistance. And if you have a two-unit home, you only have to contribute 3% of your own funds.¹
2. $3,000 down payment assistance
   Through the Home at Last program, you can receive up to $3,000 towards your down payment after you complete an online or in-person home buying education session.²
3. Discount on closing costs
   Get an additional $600 off your closing costs. And if you are a first time home buyer, you can receive $750 towards your closing costs or other expenses like prepaid interest.
4. Free preapproval
   At Third Federal. Your preapproval is free and we lock in your rate right at preapproval for 60 days. And if rates fall lower, we will adjust your rate – all you have to do is ask!
5. Free counseling session
   There are no out-of-pocket expenses for online home buying counseling sessions.  
6. Lowest fixed rates guaranteed
   At Third Federal, you can get the same rates as conventional loans. We won’t mark-up rates due to down payment amount, credit score, income or other criteria. What you see is what you get. And, if you find a lower rate than ours, we’ll beat it or give you $1,000.³
7. $100 Visa^® Prepaid Card
   You can get a $100 Visa^® Prepaid card when you get a TF HomeReady Purchase mortgage.⁴

We also provide free homeownership education that will help you understand the complete home buying process from how much you can afford all the way through your loan closing process.

The Home at Last Down Payment Assistance Program is available for loan amounts up to $200,000 and borrowers need to meet certain geographic and income requirements to be eligible for down payment assistance. Plus you get these great benefits:

And there are more great benefits:

1. No closing costs
   We pay all closing costs which saves you thousands of dollars. The average person saves about $2,700^† in closing costs.
2. Lower monthly payments
   At Third Federal, you can get the same rates as conventional loans. We won’t mark-up rates due to down payment amount, credit score, income or other criteria. What you see is what you get.
3. Lower fixed rates
   With the TF HomeReady Refinance, rates are much lower - about 2.00% APR less – than other refinance programs.
4. Refinance with little equity
   Think you don’t have enough equity in your home to refinance? Think again! At Third Federal, you can refinance even if you have very little equity in your home.
5. $100 Visa^® Prepaid Card
   You can get a $100 Visa^® Prepaid card when you get a TF HomeReady Mortgage Refinance.

We also provide free homeownership education that will help you understand the complete home buying process from how much you can afford all the way through your loan closing process.

The Third Federal Heritage Home Loan is a great option for homeowners who want to make
improvements on homes that are more than 50 years old. Available in participating cities in Cuyahoga County through a partnership with the Cleveland Restoration Society, the Heritage Home Loan can be used for interior and exterior projects that help to preserve the architectural character and increase the value of your property.

Click here to learn more about the Third Federal Heritage Home loan.