NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Statewide, Montana, administered by NeighborWorks Montana.
The program asks for
- First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Tier 1 first-time-buyer requirement waived for single parents with dependent children or households that include a disabled individual; Tier 2 (up to 125% AMI) does not require first-time buyer status.
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- A completed homebuyer education course, through Homebuyer education class from a NeighborWorks Montana partner organization.
- Residency: HOME funds available only where other organizations with similar funds do not operate. Approved counties: Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Broadwater, Butte-Silver Bow, Carbon, Cascade, Fergus, Flathead, Glacier, Hill, Lake, Lincoln, Lewis & Clark, Pondera, Stillwater, Yellowstone. Approved cities: Baker, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Columbus, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Laurel, Lewistown, Miles City, Red Lodge, Whitefish.
- Incorporated cities within approved counties MAY NOT be approved - verify the specific city. Fund availability must be confirmed before reservation.
- A home in Multiple County
It doesn’t cover
- Households above 80% of area median income
- Homes outside Multiple County
These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.
Income limit
80% of Multiple County’s area median income
HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program, through Homebuyer education class from a NeighborWorks Montana partner organization..
Contact NeighborWorks Montana to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through Lender must check fund availability with NeighborWorks Montana prior to reservation., and are subject to availability.
Work with a lender who handles the program
Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Questions about this program
What is NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Statewide, Montana, administered by NeighborWorks Montana. NeighborWorks Montana provides federal HOME-funded down payment and closing cost second mortgages to fill the gap between total financing needed and the amount the first lender will lend, in counties not served by other HOME administrators. The primary tier offers $2,500-$25,000 (up to $40,000) at 0% interest with no payments for 15 years to buyers at or below 80% AMI. A second amortizing tier of $1,500-$10,000 serves households up to 125% AMI without a first-time-buyer requirement. 0% interest deferred for 15 years (Tier 1). Fills financing gap. Borrower can put in as little as 1%. Higher-income amortizing option available. Disabled-household and single-parent eligibility exceptions. Funding comes from Federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds.
How much assistance does it provide?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance offers between $2,500 and $40,000 in assistance. Award tiers: Tier 1 (HOME funds): $2,500-$25,000 (up to $40,000), 0% interest, no payments for 15 years, income at or below 80% AMI, must be first-time buyer/single parent/household with disabled individual. Tier 2 (higher-income amortizing): $1,500-$10,000 for households up to 125% AMI, not required to be first-time buyers, amortizing with monthly payments. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — NeighborWorks Montana determines any individual award.
Do you have to pay it back?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance is forgiven after 15 years, so a homebuyer who stays that long does not repay it. Repayment is triggered by Due in 15 years or when the borrower leaves or refinances the home (Tier 1, 0% deferred). The assistance is recorded in Second position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Tier 1 first-time-buyer requirement waived for single parents with dependent children or households that include a disabled individual; Tier 2 (up to 125% AMI) does not require first-time buyer status. A homebuyer education course is required, through Homebuyer education class from a NeighborWorks Montana partner organization. Residency requirement: HOME funds available only where other organizations with similar funds do not operate. Approved counties: Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Broadwater, Butte-Silver Bow, Carbon, Cascade, Fergus, Flathead, Glacier, Hill, Lake, Lincoln, Lewis & Clark, Pondera, Stillwater, Yellowstone. Approved cities: Baker, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Columbus, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Laurel, Lewistown, Miles City, Red Lodge, Whitefish. Incorporated cities within approved counties MAY NOT be approved - verify the specific city. Fund availability must be confirmed before reservation.
What are the income limits?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Tier 1 (HOME): at or below 80% of county median income by family size. Tier 2: up to 125% of county median income by family size. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.
Is there eligibility for specific groups?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance names homebuyers with disabilities among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.
Where does it apply?
NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Statewide, Montana. The program targets specific areas: Counties/cities not served by other HOME-fund administrators (see residency requirement).
How do you apply?
Applications for NeighborWorks Montana HOME Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance go through NeighborWorks Montana, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Lender must check fund availability with NeighborWorks Montana prior to reservation. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Also for Multiple County homebuyersOther programs open to Multiple County homebuyers
- Downpayment Assistance ProgramDeferred
- HomeStretch (HB819 Shared Equity Program)Assistance
- HRDC's Road to Home Down Payment AssistanceDeferred
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 77 programs for Multiple CountyProgram terms are set by NeighborWorks Montana and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.