First Time Home Buyer Programs Las Vegas Buyers Can Use in 2026

Short answer: The main first time home buyer programs Las Vegas buyers can use come from the Nevada Housing Division under the name Home Is Possible. The general program offers up to 5% of the loan value toward your down payment or closing costs, with no first-time buyer requirement. A separate first-time program offers up to 4%. There is also Worker Advantage, up to $20,000 for people in healthcare, education, public safety, and construction, and a $7,500 option for public school teachers. Most of these work with a VA loan.

Jennifer Rodriguez is a Realtor® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP®) in Northwest Las Vegas helping military families and first-time buyers buy with confidence.

Here's what most people don't realize. "First-time buyer program" does not always mean first-time buyers only. Several of the Nevada programs skip that rule completely. So even if you owned a home at your last duty station, keep reading.

What first time home buyer programs are available in Las Vegas?

These are the programs the Nevada Housing Division lists on its Home Is Possible site. I checked each one on September 28, 2026.

Home Is Possible

• Up to 5% of the loan value toward down payment or closing costs.
• No first-time homebuyer requirement.
• Qualifying income up to $165,000.
• Home price up to $832,750.
• Minimum credit score of 640 (660 for a manufactured home).
• Works with FHA, USDA, VA, and conventional loans.
• You can own one other property, as long as it is out of state.
• A homebuyer education course is required.

Home Is Possible for First-Time Homebuyers

• Up to 4% of the total loan amount for down payment and closing costs.
• The assistance is a 30-year, non-forgivable second loan. You pay it back.
• You qualify as first-time if you have not owned a home in the past 3 years.
• Minimum credit score of 640 (660 for a manufactured home).
• County income and price limits apply. For Clark County, the limits page the program links to shows a maximum purchase price of $566,354 and a maximum household income of $105,500 for 2 or fewer people or $121,325 for 3 or more, effective June 15, 2026. Some areas of the county have a higher income limit, so ask the lender.

Worker Advantage

• $20,000 in down payment assistance as a no-interest, no-payment, non-forgivable 30-year second mortgage.
• For people who work in healthcare, education, public safety, or construction trades.
• No first-time homebuyer requirement.
• You must have lived in Nevada for at least 6 months.
• Minimum credit score of 640, and a home price up to $832,750.

Home Is Possible for Teachers

• $7,500 in forgivable down payment or closing cost assistance.
• For full-time K-12 public school teachers.
• No first-time homebuyer requirement.

Every one of these requires you to live in the home as your primary residence.

Can you use a Nevada assistance program with a VA loan?

Yes. Home Is Possible lists VA loans as eligible, and its veterans page says the programs are open to first-time and repeat buyers.

Let's make this simple. A VA loan already lets most buyers purchase with no down payment. So for a VA buyer, the value of these programs is usually on the closing cost side, or in keeping more cash in the bank after you move in. That cushion matters when you are also paying for a move.

If you are PCSing and still own a home in another state, the general Home Is Possible program allows you to own one other out-of-state property. That rule fits a lot of military families who kept their last house as a rental.

Worker Advantage also applies to service members and veterans. The program's veterans page says it is open to active duty, veterans, and reservists who work in one of the qualifying fields. That makes it most relevant to a military spouse or a veteran working as a nurse, teacher, firefighter, officer, or in the trades.

What about programs from Clark County or rural Nevada?

Nevada Rural Housing runs programs such as Home At Last and Rural Rocks. Its site says homes inside the city limits of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson are not eligible. Only the rural parts of Clark County qualify. If you are looking in the city, plan on the Nevada Housing Division programs above instead.

Clark County's Welcome Home Community Land Trust is a different model. The county plans to sell homes to first-time buyers while the trust keeps ownership of the land, which keeps the price lower. Clark County says 240 homes will be built at first, for households at or below 80% and 100% of area median income, mostly those earning between $50,000 and $95,000 a year. Attending an information session is required before you apply. Check the county's land trust page for when applications open.

Which one should you look at first?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but here is how I'd sort it for a friend:

• You work in healthcare, education, public safety, or construction: start with Worker Advantage. It is the largest flat dollar amount.
• You are a full-time public school teacher: compare the $7,500 teacher option, which is forgivable, with Worker Advantage.
• You have owned a home recently, or earn above the first-time limits: look at the general Home Is Possible program, with its $165,000 income limit and no first-time rule.
• You are using a VA loan: ask your lender whether the assistance lowers your cash to close enough to be worth the added terms.

Common mistakes with down payment assistance

• Assuming it is free money. Some of these are second loans you pay back. Ask whether yours is forgivable, repayable, or due when you sell or refinance.
• Waiting until after you write an offer. Only participating lenders can offer these programs, and the education course takes time. Sort this out during pre-approval.
• Skipping the rate comparison. Ask your lender to show you the rate, payment, and cash to close with the assistance and without it, side by side.
• Using a city address for a rural program. Nevada Rural Housing does not cover homes inside Las Vegas city limits.
• Counting on a program that has changed. Limits and amounts are updated. Confirm with the program and your lender before you budget around a number.

How do you apply?

You do not apply to the Nevada Housing Division directly. You go through an approved lender. The Home Is Possible site has a lender search, and its steps are simple: get pre-approved with a participating lender, complete homebuyer education, find an agent, find the home, finish paperwork with the lender, and close.

More for first-time and VA buyers

• VA loan pre-approval process: what you need and what happens next
• What does a VA loan cost at closing in Las Vegas?
• Is there a minimum credit score for a VA loan?

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get help in Las Vegas?

No. The general Home Is Possible program, Worker Advantage, and the teacher program have no first-time homebuyer requirement. Only Home Is Possible for First-Time Homebuyers requires that you have not owned a home in the past 3 years.

How much down payment assistance can I get in Nevada?

Home Is Possible offers up to 5% of the loan value. The first-time version offers up to 4%. Worker Advantage offers $20,000 for qualifying workers, and full-time K-12 public school teachers can get $7,500.

What credit score do I need for Home Is Possible?

The program lists a minimum credit score of 640, or 660 for a manufactured home.

Can I use Home Is Possible with a VA loan?

Yes. The program lists VA loans as eligible, along with FHA, USDA, and conventional loans.

Is down payment assistance in Nevada a grant?

It depends on the program. The first-time program and Worker Advantage are non-forgivable second loans. The teacher program is forgivable. Ask your lender how your specific assistance is paid back before you commit.

Thinking about buying and not sure which of these fits you? Send me what you do for work and whether you are using a VA loan, and I will help you narrow it down before you talk to a lender. You can find me at homesbyjrod.com.

Program details in this article come from the Nevada Housing Division's Home Is Possible site, Nevada Rural Housing, and Clark County, checked on September 28, 2026. Programs, limits, and funding change, so confirm current terms with an approved lender. This is general education, not financial or legal advice.