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FirstHome Program – ND Housing Finance Agency

Open

North Dakota Housing Finance AgencyNDFirst-Time Homeowner

Deadline: state

Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Summary

NDHFA’s FirstHome Program offers low-interest, fixed-rate mortgages specifically for first-time buyers and allows them to add DCA or Start assistance, which provides a 3% credit toward down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items.

Eligibility

First-time homebuyers who have not owned a home as their principal residence in the past three years (including manufactured homes on permanent foundations), meet county-specific income and purchase price limits, contribute at least $500 of their own funds, occupy the home as a principal residence, and work with an NDHFA participating lender; borrowers may also need to complete approved homebuyer education to access down payment assistance.

Full Description

FirstHome is designed to help low- and moderate-income North Dakota renters transition into ownership with predictable monthly payments and modest cash requirements. The program restricts eligibility to households that have not owned a principal residence within three years, while requiring them to meet income and purchase price caps that vary by county, household size, and program type. Within that framework, buyers can access conventional, FHA, VA or USDA 30-year fixed-rate loans at competitive interest rates that are often below market, and may be able to layer DCA or Start down payment assistance—each equal to 3% of the first mortgage amount—as a credit at closing to reduce the funds they must bring to the table. General requirements include a minimum $500 borrower investment and owner-occupancy of the home, and many borrowers will be referred to HUD-approved or NDHFA-partner homebuyer education so they understand budgeting, credit, and the long-term responsibilities of homeownership. Together, the FirstHome mortgage and optional DCA/Start support buyers who can sustain a mortgage payment but lack enough savings for down payment and closing costs.
Apply on official siteUpdated Nov 29, 2025

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Downpayment Assistance – City of Fargo

Open

City of Fargo – Planning & Development / ND Housing Finance AgencyNDFirst-Time Homeowner

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Fargo’s Downpayment Assistance page connects first-time buyers in the city directly to NDHFA’s DCA Program, which embeds a 3% down payment and closing-cost credit into an NDHFA first mortgage for low-income households.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers purchasing within Fargo city limits who qualify for an NDHFA first mortgage and meet DCA income and property guideline…

Deadline: Rolling; dependent on NDHFA program availabilityCity
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The Essential Public Employee Program (EP2) provides up to $10,000 in affordable down payment and closing cost assistance loans for North Dakota’s public employees—such as teachers, first responders, and government staff—to help them buy homes in the communities they serve.

Eligible for: Essential public employees in North Dakota employed by a city or county government, school district, medical or long-term care facility, the…

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Homeownership – ND Housing Finance Agency

Open

North Dakota Housing Finance AgencyNDFirst-Time Homeowner

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

NDHFA’s Homeownership hub outlines multiple fixed-rate loan programs plus DCA and Start down payment assistance, giving first-time and move-up buyers flexible options to combine low-interest mortgages with 3% credits toward down payment and closing costs.

Eligible for: North Dakota homebuyers who invest at least $500 of their own funds, will occupy the property as their principal residence, and meet program…

Deadline: Rolling; subject to lender approval and program fundingStatewide
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Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance (DCA) – NDHFA

Open

North Dakota Housing Finance AgencyNDFirst-Time Homeowner

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

NDHFA’s DCA Program layers a 3% credit on top of qualifying first mortgages to help low-income North Dakota buyers cover down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items without relying on multiple overlapping assistance programs.

Eligible for: Low-income buyers using an NDHFA first mortgage who meet DCA income limits (varying by county and family size), are purchasing a 1–2 unit pr…

Deadline: Rolling; available while program funds last and when paired with an eligible NDHFA first mortgageStatewide
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