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Homeownership – ND Housing Finance Agency

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North Dakota Housing Finance AgencyNDFirst-Time Homeowner

Deadline: Scope: Statewidestate

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Summary

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 Locations

North Dakota; ND Housing (North Dakota Housing Finance Agency) offers statewide homeownership and housing programs.

Eligibility

North Dakota homebuyers who invest at least $500 of their own funds, will occupy the property as their principal residence, and meet program-specific income and purchase price limits for FirstHome, HomeAccess or Major Home Improvement; borrowers who exceed those limits may qualify under North Dakota Roots with no income or purchase price caps.

Full Description

This page serves as the main gateway to NDHFA’s homeownership offerings. It first walks buyers through “Important Steps” like contacting a participating lender, completing homebuyer education, comparing interest rates, and working with a FirstHome Certified Agent experienced in serving first-time buyers. It then lists general program requirements, including a mandatory $500 out-of-pocket cash investment, owner-occupancy of the home, and adherence to income limits for FirstHome and HomeAccess that vary by county, family size, and program; households above those limits are directed to North Dakota Roots, which has no income or purchase price caps. The page summarizes each program: FirstHome for first-time buyers who have not owned a principal residence within three years; HomeAccess for veterans, single parents, older adults and households with disabilities; North Dakota Roots for higher-income or repeat buyers; Major Home Improvement for purchase/rehab or refinance/rehab projects; Targeted Area Loans for reduced-rate financing in specific census tracts; and two key down payment assistance options—DCA and Start—that each provide 3% of the first mortgage amount as a credit usable for down payment, closing costs and prepaid items on 1–2 unit owner-occupied properties.

Verification & Details

Source: ndhousing.nd.gov
Official source → ndhousing.nd.gov
Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 1, 2025

Recommended Resource

First-Time Homebuyer Starter Pack (2025 Edition)

A complete first-time homebuyer toolkit: 9 checklists, timelines, grant guidance, worksheets + editable Excel/Google Sheet budget & affordability calculator.

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More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout North Dakota that complement this opportunity.

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.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers who have not owned a home as their principal residence in the past three years (including manufactured homes on perman…

Deadline: Rolling; subject to income, purchase price limits, and funding

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

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…

Deadline: Rolling; subject to funding and underwritingStatewide

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