Las Vegas · down payment assistance
You probably qualify
for more than you think.
Nevada runs a program that covers up to 4% of your loan toward the down payment and closing costs. It is forgivable, there is no monthly payment, and the income limit is far higher than almost anyone assumes.
Nevada Housing Division “Home Is Possible” · figures verified October 2026· limits are revised periodically, confirm with an approved lender
Five things people believe that keep them renting
Every one of these costs somebody years.
“You need 20% down to buy a house.”
You do not. FHA loans start at 3.5% down, and Nevada's Home Is Possible grant can cover up to 4% of the loan amount on top of that. Twenty percent avoids mortgage insurance — it has never been a requirement to buy.
“Assistance programs are for people much poorer than me.”
This is the one that costs people the most. The Clark County income limit is around $105,500 for a one or two person household and $121,325 with three or more. A very large share of working households in Las Vegas sit under that and never check.
“I owned a home before, so first-time programs are out.”
"First-time buyer" in this context means you have not owned a home in the last three years. People who sold during the pandemic, or lost a home, or came out of a divorce are frequently eligible again and do not realise it.
“It is a loan I will have to pay back.”
Home Is Possible assistance is structured as a forgivable second at 0% — no monthly payment, and it goes away over time. It is not a second mortgage you service.
“Rent-to-own gets me there faster.”
Usually the opposite. In a rent-to-own you pay an option fee, then above-market rent, and you still have to qualify for a mortgage at the end of it. The arrangement does not get you a loan — it charges you for the time until you can get one yourself. If you cannot qualify when the clock runs out, the option fee and the credits typically go with it.
The real gate is your credit score, not your savings.
Almost everyone assumes the down payment is what stands between them and a home. For most people in Las Vegas it is not — the program handles a meaningful part of that. The requirement that actually stops people is a 660 credit score.
If you are already there, you are far closer than you think. If you are not, that is usually a six to twelve month project with specific steps — not a vague multi-year wait. Either way, the useful thing is knowing which one you are, and that takes about fifteen minutes to find out.
I am a Realtor, not a lender. I cannot approve you and I will not guess at your numbers. What I can do is put you in front of someone who will pull it and tell you the truth, at no cost, with no obligation to use me afterwards.
Find out where you actually stand
No cost, no obligation, and no pressure from me afterwards. Plenty of people do this a year or two before they buy.
Questions people actually ask
What is Home Is Possible?
A down payment assistance program run by the Nevada Housing Division. It provides up to 4% of your loan amount toward your down payment and closing costs, structured as a forgivable second mortgage at 0% interest with no monthly payment.
How much money is it actually worth?
It scales with your loan. On a $350,000 loan, 4% is about $14,000 toward getting you to the table. That is frequently the entire difference between buying this year and buying in three years.
What is the income limit in Clark County?
Roughly $105,500 for a household of one or two, and about $121,325 for three or more, under limits effective June 2026. Limits are revised periodically, so confirm with an approved lender rather than assuming you are over.
Is there a price cap on the home?
Yes — around $832,750. In practice that is well above the Las Vegas median, so it rules out very few buyers.
What credit score do I need?
660 for government-backed and conventional loans, and 680 for manufactured homes. This is the requirement that actually stops people — not the down payment. If you are below it, that is usually a six to twelve month project with specific steps, not a multi-year wait.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Only in the technical sense — it means you have not owned a home in the past three years. Prior ownership before that window does not disqualify you.
Can I combine it with an FHA or VA loan?
Generally yes — the assistance is designed to sit on top of a standard first mortgage, including FHA and VA. Your lender confirms the specific combination and any overlays.
Is there a catch?
There are conditions, not catches. You use an approved lender, you meet the income and credit requirements, the home has to be your primary residence, and the forgiveness happens over a holding period. If you sell or refinance very early, some of it can come back. Your lender will give you the exact terms in writing before you commit to anything.
How do I find out where I actually stand?
A lender pulls your credit and runs your income against the current limits. It takes about fifteen minutes, costs nothing, and carries no obligation. Plenty of people do it a year or two before they intend to buy, purely so they know what they are working with.