Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Luke Feldbrugge
It can be challenging saving money for a down payment on a home when you want to move, like, yesterday. While the suggested amount to save for a down payment is 20% of the purchase price, that isn’t necessarily the rule. There are also different types of loans and down payment assistance programs for nurses that allow for lower, or no, down payment.
Down Payment Assistance for Nurses
There are several options for home buying and down payment assistance for nurses. There are national programs, grants, tax credits, and even discounts from real estate agents and lenders. Sometimes it can be hard to even know where to start!
A good place to start is a first time home buyer class. These classes are designed to go over things like financial literacy, the steps involved in buying and closing on a house, and things like inspections and home insurance. You can also find out about great down payment programs specific to your area through these classes. Some loans or lenders strongly encourage that you attend these classes, but the are not always required. You can find classes at the city, county, and state level, depending on where you’re looking to buy.
The Federal Government also supports first time home buyer programs at the state level. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, have funds they distribute to states to use on their various programs.
Another place to look for down payment assistance if you’re a nurse is through Down Payment Resource. This is the only online, comprehensive database of down payment assistance programs. You can enter your information, including that you’re a working nurse, to see the programs available to you. Down Payment Resource has approximately 2,300 programs in their database to automatically match you with.
Zero Down Loans
Some of the programs for down payment assistance for nurses you’ll qualify for above can be used with types of loans that also offer no or lower down payments. FHA loans, for example, require as low as 3.5% for a down payment with good credit scores. Even if you have a lower credit score, FHA loans only require up 10% for a down payment. So at 3.5%, if you’re looking at a $200,000 home, your down payment could be as low as $7,000. Sometimes, you can roll closing costs into your loan, meaning you’ll need to have even less cash at your closing.
USDA home loans are another excellent option to save on down payments, because they don’t require one! These home loans are designed for nurses living in or moving to rural areas. While you might think that means a tiny town in the country, USDA recognizes towns and cities up to 35,000 people as rural. These loans have possibly the most requirements to meet for government-backed loan, but there are many benefits if you qualify.
First, there is no down payment requirement. The loan amount you request can be 100% of the home purchase price. Second, there is technically no minimum credit requirement, though applicants with a 640 credit score or better have higher priority. Last, you can use a USDA loan to build a new home in a rural area, you do not need to use it on an existing home.
Homes for Heroes
If you qualify for down payment assistance and are able to get an FHA or USDA loan, there are even more savings out there for a healthcare hero like you! Homes for Heroes has helped over 43,000 healthcare workers and other heroes save over $75 million on their home transactions. We do this by giving you back Hero Rewards after your home closing.
When you use one of our affiliate real estate agents to buy and/or sell your home, you’ll get 0.7% of the purchase price back as a check. So, if you buy a home for $200,000, you’d get $1,400 back. Plus, if you work with our mortgage, title and inspection specialists, you can save $500 on lender fees, $150 on title services, and $50 on a home inspection. That adds up to thousands of dollars in savings!
Sign up now to talk to a Homes for Heroes agent. There is no obligation, cost, or extra paperwork for you. You can also get Hero Rewards regardless of the down payment assistance or type of loan you use.
