Home Is Possible
Assistance of up to about 4% of the loan amount toward down payment and closing costs. Not limited to first-time buyers; a minimum credit score (around 660) and homebuyer education generally apply.
Las Vegas Home Buyers
Down Payment Assistance in Las Vegas
The down payment is the wall most first-time buyers hit. Nevada has real programs that lower it — here's how they work in 2026, who qualifies, and how to actually use one to buy a home in Las Vegas.
Quick answer
Down payment assistance (DPA) helps cover part of your down payment — and sometimes closing costs — usually as a grant or a second loan. In Las Vegas, most DPA comes through the Nevada Housing Division and its approved lenders. Programs include Home Is Possible (up to about 4% of the loan), Home First (up to $15,000 for first-time buyers), the Worker Advantage program for essential workers, and versions for heroes and teachers. Amounts and rules change, so a lender confirms what you qualify for.
Start Here
What Down Payment Assistance Actually Is
Down payment assistance is money that helps you clear the biggest upfront hurdle of buying a home. It usually comes in one of two forms: a grant that you don't repay as long as you stay in the home for a set period, or a second loan that is either forgiven over time or repaid later (often when you sell or refinance).
Here's the part most people miss: you don't apply to the state directly. You work with an approved lender who offers the programs, layered on top of a normal mortgage — typically an FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loan. That's why the right first move is a conversation with a lender who knows Nevada's programs, paired with an agent who can find homes that fit the rules.
Nevada Programs
Down Payment Assistance Programs for Las Vegas Buyers
A snapshot of the main Nevada programs. Amounts and eligibility are set by the administering agencies and change — treat these as a starting point, not a quote.
Home First
Up to $15,000 for qualified first-time buyers (generally no home ownership in the past three years), subject to income and price limits.
Worker Advantage
Assistance aimed at essential workers — roles such as healthcare, education, public safety, and construction — helping the people who keep the valley running become owners.
Home Is Possible for Heroes
A version with favorable terms for military, veterans, and first responders — police, firefighters, and similar service roles.
Home Is Possible for Teachers
Built for licensed K–12 teachers, with down payment help and, in some cases, an added benefit toward buying.
Middle-Income & Rural Options
Nevada has periodically offered larger middle-income grants and rural-area assistance. Availability comes and goes with funding — a lender can tell you what's open now.
Milvado Realty is a real estate brokerage — not a lender or the Nevada Housing Division. Program names, amounts, and eligibility are set by the administering agencies and change over time. Confirm current details and your eligibility with an approved lender.
Eligibility
Do I Qualify?
Every program is a little different, but most Nevada DPA comes down to a handful of boxes:
- Credit score — often a minimum around 660
- Income limits — household income under a set cap
- Purchase-price limits — the home must fall under a maximum
- Homebuyer education — a short course is usually required
- First-time status — required for some programs, not others
- Primary residence — you plan to live in the home
The fastest way to know is a no-cost pre-qualification with a lender who runs these programs every week. We'll point you to trusted local options.
Common Myths, Cleared Up
- "I need 20% down." You don't — and DPA exists precisely so you don't have to.
- "It's only for very low income." Many programs reach moderate and even middle incomes.
- "Assistance means a weaker offer." With the right lender and agent, a DPA offer closes like any other.
- "It's too good to be true." These are established, state-administered programs — not a gimmick.
Why It's Worth It Here
The Nevada Tax Advantage Stretches Your Money
Down payment help matters more in a state where the rest of the math already favors owners. Nevada has no state income tax, and its effective property tax rate is well below the national average, according to the State of Nevada. So the dollars a program frees up front are joined by lower ongoing costs than buyers face in many nearby states — which is a big reason so many first-time and relocating buyers can make Las Vegas work.
Assistance gets you in the door. The lower carrying cost is what helps you stay.
Free Buyer Consult
Let's See What You Qualify For
Tell us a little about your situation and we'll map out programs you may qualify for, connect you with an approved lender, and start finding homes that fit. No pressure, no obligation, no cost to you as a buyer.
- Down payment & assistance program match
- Trusted local lender introductions
- Homes that fit the price limits
Prefer to talk now? Call (702) 613-8601
Down Payment Assistance FAQ
Common Questions
Down payment assistance (DPA) is help — usually a grant or a second loan — that covers part of your down payment and sometimes closing costs, so you can buy a home with less cash out of pocket. In Nevada, most DPA is offered through the Nevada Housing Division and its approved lenders.
Nevada's main programs include Home Is Possible (assistance of up to about 4% of the loan amount toward down payment and closing costs), Home First (up to $15,000 for first-time buyers), the Worker Advantage program for essential workers, and Home Is Possible for Heroes and for Teachers. Program names, amounts, and availability are set by the state and change, so confirm current terms with an approved lender.
Not always. Some programs, like Home First, require first-time buyer status, which generally means you have not owned a home in the past three years. Others, like the standard Home Is Possible program, do not require you to be a first-time buyer.
It depends on the program. Home Is Possible grant assistance generally does not have to be repaid as long as you keep the home for a minimum period (often about three years). Other programs are structured as a forgivable or repayable second loan. Confirm how your specific program works before you commit.
Many Nevada programs require a minimum credit score around 660, set household income and purchase-price limits, and require a homebuyer education course. An approved lender reviews your credit, income, and the home to confirm which programs you qualify for.
We connect you with approved local lenders who offer these programs, help you find homes that fit the price limits, and structure your offer so the assistance works with the seller and the timeline — at no cost to you as a buyer.
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Las Vegas Home Buyers
The down payment doesn't have to stop you.
Let's find the assistance you qualify for and the home to use it on — with a local team that does this every day.