NAHI and Home$tart Grants

Open

Cook Inlet Lending Center, Inc.AKFirst-Time Homeowner

Funding: Up to $25,000GrantUntil funds exhaustedScope: Statewidestate

Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Summary

Cook Inlet Lending Center’s NAHI and Home$tart grants are large, forgivable-style down payment assistance grants that can provide eligible Alaska homebuyers with $15,000–$25,000 to cover down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses, significantly reducing the cash needed to become a homeowner.

Benefits

Down payment assistanceClosing costsPrepaid expenses

Who Can Apply

IndividualOther

Eligible Locations

State of Alaska (Native and American Indian homebuyers statewide)

Eligibility

For NAHI: Alaska Native, American Indian or Native Hawaiian homebuyers below ~80% of NAHASDA AMI who will owner-occupy a 1–4 unit property, complete homebuyer education and obtain a first mortgage through Cook Inlet Lending Center. For Home$tart: first-time homebuyers below ~80% of HUD AMI who will owner-occupy a 1–4 unit property, complete education and have an active first mortgage application with CILC.

Full Description

The Native American Homeowner Initiative (NAHI) and Home$tart programs at Cook Inlet Lending Center are designed to open the door to homeownership for income-qualified Alaskans, particularly Alaska Native, American Indian and Native Hawaiian buyers. NAHI offers a grant of up to $25,000 per household that can be applied to down payment, closing costs and prepaid items for the purchase of a 1–4 unit owner-occupied property. Home$tart complements this with a grant of up to $15,000 for eligible first-time homebuyers who meet HUD-based income limits and complete homebuyer education. Both grants require that borrowers maintain owner-occupancy for a defined period, work with CILC on their first mortgage and satisfy underwriting and documentation requirements, including tribal affiliation for NAHI participants. Income limits and maximum assistance amounts are adjusted by household size and location across Alaska, and funding is limited, so CILC encourages prospective buyers to complete the online eligibility questionnaire and connect with a Homebuyer Assistance Officer early. Together, NAHI and Home$tart function as powerful down payment assistance tools that can be layered with conventional or government-backed mortgage products to make homeownership more attainable in Anchorage and communities throughout Alaska.

Verification & Details

Complexity: Moderate

Confidence: 80%

Status: Open

Source: cookinletlending.com

Based on public summary; funding availability may vary.

Official source → cookinletlending.com

Apply on official siteUpdated Nov 29, 2025

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More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout Alaska that complement this opportunity.

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Updated: Nov 29, 2025

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AHFC’s Home Opportunity Program (HOP) channels HUD HOME funds through nonprofit intermediaries to provide down payment, closing cost and mortgage buydown assistance for low-income Alaskans buying their primary residence. The program targets households under 80% of area median income and is designed to bridge the affordability gap in Alaska’s higher-cost markets.

Eligible for: Low-income homebuyers (generally ≤80% of area median income) who do not already own a home, will occupy the property as their primary reside…

Funding: Provides down payment and closing cost assistance to low-income individuals and families through nonprofit intermediary agencies in major urban areas of Alaska; assistance amounts vary by agency and funding availability.Multi-county/RegionIndividualDown payment assistanceClosing costs

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Home Opportunity Program (HOP) – Alaska Community Development Corporation

Open

Alaska Community Development CorporationAKFirst-Time HomeownerForgivable loan

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Alaska Community Development Corporation’s Home Opportunity Program (HOP) delivers substantial down payment, closing cost and mortgage buydown assistance to low-income homebuyers across most of Alaska, with loans structured as zero-interest and partially forgivable to make ownership truly affordable.

Eligible for: Low-income households (≤80% of HUD area median income) in eligible Alaska communities who do not own another home, will occupy the property …

Funding: Provides a combination of grant and zero-interest loan assistance: first $10,000 conditionally forgivable over a five-year occupancy period, plus potential down payment assistance up to 2% of purchase price or $3,800, up to $3,000 in closing costs, and first mortgage buydown assistance not to exceed $30,000 per household.Until funds exhaustedMulti-county/RegionIndividualDown payment assistanceClosing costsMortgage buydown

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