Mortgage Friend · First-Time Buyers · Nevada

Nevada first-time buyers: there's money on the table. Most people don't know it.

Nevada has some of the strongest down payment assistance programs in the country. We've helped hundreds of Las Vegas buyers use these programs to close with far less out of pocket than they expected.

Down Payment Assistance

Nevada down payment assistance programs

Nevada Housing Division runs several programs that put real money toward your down payment. Here's what's available and who qualifies.

Home Is Possible

Nevada's Flagship Program

Nevada's primary down payment assistance program, administered by the Nevada Housing Division. One of the most generous DPA programs in the western United States.

Assistance amount
Up to 5% of loan amount
Eligible loan types
FHA, VA, Conventional
Income limit (Clark County)
~$98,500–$135,000/yr
Min. credit score
640
Occupancy requirement
Primary residence only

Home Is Possible for Heroes

Veterans & Active-Duty

An enhanced version of Home Is Possible designed specifically for veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses. Stacks directly on top of VA loan benefits.

Eligibility
Veterans, active-duty, surviving spouses
Best combination
VA loan + Heroes DPA
Potential out-of-pocket
$0 (with seller concessions)
Min. credit score
640
Stacks with VA benefits
Yes — additional assistance

Home Is Possible for Teachers

K–12 Educators

Nevada's program for K–12 teachers combines a below-market interest rate with down payment assistance — recognizing the financial realities of educators in a high-cost market.

Eligibility
Full-time K–12 Nevada teachers
Employment requirement
Accredited Nevada school
Benefits
Below-market rate + DPA
Min. credit score
640
Eligible loan types
FHA, VA, Conventional

NHD Home At Last

Clark County Specific

The Nevada Housing Division's Clark County-focused program. Assistance is forgivable after three years — meaning if you stay in the home, you never have to repay it.

Assistance amount
Up to 5%
Forgiveness period
3 years — then fully forgiven
Geographic limit
Clark County only
Min. credit score
640
Eligible loan types
FHA, VA, Conventional

Strategy

How to stack programs for maximum benefit

DPA programs are designed to be paired with specific loan types. Here's what the math looks like on a typical Las Vegas purchase at three common scenarios.

Scenario A

FHA + Home Is Possible

Best for: buyers with 640–700 credit, no VA eligibility

Purchase price

$440,000

FHA required down (3.5%) $15,400
HIP covers 4% of loan −$17,600
Net down payment $0

Seller can cover closing costs via concessions. Result: potentially nothing out of pocket at closing.

Scenario B

Conventional + Home Is Possible

Best for: buyers with 700+ credit wanting no lifetime MIP

Purchase price

$440,000

Conventional required down (3%) $13,200
HIP covers 5% of loan −$22,000
Down covered + surplus $8,800 toward closing

Excess DPA applies toward closing costs. No lifetime mortgage insurance — PMI drops at 20% equity.

Scenario C

VA + Heroes Assistance

Best for: eligible veterans — the optimal combination

Purchase price

$440,000

VA required down payment $0
Heroes DPA toward closing Covers closing costs
Total out of pocket ~$0

Best possible scenario. No down payment, no PMI, Heroes DPA can cover closing costs entirely.

Scenarios are illustrative based on typical Clark County purchase at $440,000. Actual DPA amounts, income eligibility, and closing cost coverage vary by transaction. Ask us to run your specific numbers.

The Process

Your step-by-step path to homeownership in Nevada

Most first-time buyers don't know what to do first. Here's the exact order of operations — from checking eligibility to closing day.

1

Check program eligibility

Takes 5 minutes with us. We verify income, credit range, and county residency to confirm which DPA programs you qualify for before anything else.

2

Get pre-approved

Credit, income, and asset review. Takes 1–3 business days once you submit documents. You'll receive a pre-approval letter with your confirmed DPA eligibility included.

3

Complete homebuyer education

Required for most DPA programs. A HUD-approved homebuyer education course is free or low-cost and available entirely online. Typically 4–8 hours and can be completed at your pace.

4

Start shopping

With your pre-approval letter and confirmed DPA in hand, you're a serious buyer. Las Vegas agents respond differently to buyers who have their financing in order.

5

Go under contract

Once your offer is accepted, we submit the full loan package and open the DPA reservation simultaneously. Coordination is handled on our end — you focus on the home inspection.

6

Close with assistance applied

The DPA funds are applied at closing — you don't receive a check. Your closing disclosure will show the final numbers. Standard close is 30–45 days from accepted offer.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions.

Does Nevada have first-time home buyer programs?
Yes. Nevada Housing Division operates several programs including Home Is Possible, which provides down payment assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount for qualifying buyers statewide. Programs are available for FHA, VA, and conventional loans.
Do I have to be a true first-time buyer to qualify?
Not always. Nevada's Home Is Possible program defines "first-time buyer" as someone who has not owned a primary residence in the past three years. If you owned a home more than three years ago, you may still qualify.
Are there no-down-payment options in Nevada?
Yes — multiple paths. VA loans offer $0 down for eligible veterans. Nevada DPA programs can cover the down payment on FHA and conventional loans, effectively reducing your out-of-pocket cost to just closing costs. In some cases, seller concessions can cover closing costs too.
What is the income limit for Nevada down payment assistance?
Home Is Possible income limits vary by county and household size. In Clark County, limits generally range from $98,500–$135,000 depending on family size. Most first-time buyers in Las Vegas qualify. We'll verify your eligibility at no cost.
Can I stack a Nevada DPA program with a VA loan?
Yes. The Home Is Possible for Heroes program is specifically designed to be paired with VA loans, providing additional assistance on top of the VA's $0 down benefit. Eligible veterans can get into a home with essentially no out-of-pocket costs.

Ready to move forward?

Start your application online or call us directly. You'll hear back the same day.