How borough purchase limits affect HomeFirst, SONYMA, and property searches
HomeFirst one-unit purchase limits range from $661,000 to $732,000 across NYC boroughs, so the borough choice changes the program math. As of October 1, 2026, 80% of active Bronx listings in the RLS feed priced at or under the Bronx limit, against 19% in Manhattan.
Compare boroughs by program limits, property type, transit access, building age, monthly carrying cost and closing timeline, not by who lives there. In my 25+ years as a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker, I have worked with buyers who were approved for assistance but had to reset their search because the price crossed a program limit.
HomeFirst can provide up to $100,000 toward a down payment or closing costs, capped at the lesser of 20% of the purchase price or $100,000. You must contribute at least 3% of the price from your own funds, and no more than half of that contribution can be a gift. Income limits effective June 2026 are $142,560 for one person and $162,840 for two. The home can be a co-op, condo or 1-4 family house in any borough, as long as the price is within the borough limit.
| Borough | One-unit existing home limit | Property notes to review |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | $661,000 | Co-op inventory often drives the under-limit search |
| Bronx | $661,000 | Co-ops and 1-4 family homes require different lender checks |
| Queens | $699,000 | Co-ops, condos, and houses can all appear in the range |
| Brooklyn | $732,000 | Price discipline matters because many listings exceed the limit |
| Staten Island | $661,000 | Single-family and condo options may require different closing cost planning |
A limit only helps if inventory sits under it. The table pairs each borough's limit with StreetEasy's April 2026 median sale prices by property type and a live count of active listings at or under the limit in the REBNY Listing Service (RLS) feed on October 1, 2026.
| Borough | HomeFirst limit | Median co-op sale (Apr 2026) | Median condo sale (Apr 2026) | Active RLS listings at or under limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | $661,000 | $900,000 | $1,680,000 | 1,182 of 6,157 (19%) |
| Bronx | $661,000 | $241,740 | $270,000 | 224 of 281 (80%) |
| Queens | $699,000 | $320,000 | $625,000 | 273 of 667 (41%) |
| Brooklyn | $732,000 | $435,000 | $1,270,000 | 465 of 1,815 (26%) |
| Staten Island | $661,000 | $205,000 | $430,000 | Not in the RLS feed |
The median co-op sale is under the limit in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island, but not in Manhattan, where the April 2026 median was $900,000 against a $661,000 limit. The median condo sale is under the limit only in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. In Manhattan and Brooklyn, a HomeFirst buyer is therefore looking at the lower-priced slice of co-ops, and only 19% and 26% of active listings qualify. In Queens and the Bronx, StreetEasy's overall median sale price ($750,000 and $710,000 in April 2026) sits above the limit, so the search also targets the lower-priced half of the market there.
The RLS feed returned no Staten Island listings, so use StreetEasy's figures for that borough, and ask your lender to confirm current Staten Island inventory under the limit. Check each building's financials and board requirements before you offer, because a listing that fits the price limit can still fail the co-op or lender review. Staten Island's April 2026 median single-family sale was $750,000, above its $661,000 limit, and its median condo sale was $430,000.
Use concrete property facts: subway or bus access, commute time to a work address, building type, monthly maintenance or common charges, elevator status, laundry, outdoor space, parking, flood zone, year built, and recent comparable sales. Avoid demographic claims, school ranking claims, and neighborhood character shortcuts.
Currently available properties across NYC
1055 E 34TH Street
East Flatbush
38 E 35TH Street #3K
Murray Hill
Listing information provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Sale listings verified. ©2026 REBNY. RLS data displayed by Keller Williams NYC.
SONYMA has its own income and purchase price guidelines. Its Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) can add up to $15,000 or 3% of the price, whichever is lower, to a qualifying SONYMA mortgage. A buyer using both HomeFirst and SONYMA has to fit both sets of rules, so start with the lender and housing counselor, then move into listings.
Use the closing costs guide for cash planning, the co-op vs. condo guide for apartment structure, the HomeFirst guide for the full application steps, and the NYC buyer guide for the offer timeline.
Milton Coste, Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker with Keller Williams NYC, can help you compare property type, price range, and cash-to-close before you spend weeks on the wrong purchase path for borough-by-borough program searches.
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Currently available properties across NYC
150 E 69TH Street #4R
Lenox Hill
2233 CATON Avenue #2C
Flatbush
Listing information provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Sale listings verified. ©2026 REBNY. RLS data displayed by Keller Williams NYC.
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Disclaimer: All information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice.
Listing data sourced from the REBNY Residential Listing Service (RLS). Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Milton Coste is a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker affiliated with Keller Williams NYC,
360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017. License No. 10301213304.
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Milton Coste
Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker · Keller Williams NYC
License No. 10301213304 · 360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017
