Who's buying

Here's the Massachusetts first-time home buyer profile for 2003, from the National Association of Realtors.

Median age: 33

Median income for first-time buyer households: $59,500 (for all buyers: $75,700)

Median price paid for a first home: $216,000

Percentage of first-time buyers: 42

A variety of private, local, state, and federal financing programs are available to assist first-time home buyers. Application criteria vary, from being a school teacher or veteran, to keeping the home for a specific period of time. Doing the legwork can save thousand of dollars off the purchase price.

www.homebuyerfunds.com lists assistance programs by state, for both first-time and repeat buyers.

www.mhp.net (Massachusetts Housing Partnership) The Soft Second Loan Program has provided below-market mortgages to first-time home buyers since 1991. There are more than 280 participating communities and 38 participating lenders.

www.hud.gov The Department of Housing and Urban Development has research, information on programs, and data useful for home buyers.