Updated 1/23/2026

These programs can only be handled by approved lenders. If you would like help from a local realtor familiar with the programs and lenders, fill out this form here and I will connect you with one.

I've included all of the links and contact info needed to do this on your own, the form is meant to make it easier.

Connect with a DPA team

How Down Payment Assistance Works

I need to give a quick overview of how down payment assistance works. After that, the programs are listed.

With down payment assistance, you'll run into two different types:

  • A grant

  • A loan

A Grant

If we meet the qualifications up front, then it's money that does not need to be repaid.

A Loan

If the down payment assistance comes in the form of a loan, then pay attention to the three different types:

  • Repayable

  • Deferred

  • Forgivable

Repayable is just as most imagine. It charges interest over a certain amount of time, with monthly payments until it's paid off.

Deferred loans usually don't require a monthly payment, and typically don't charge interest. It's due in full when you refinance, sell the home, or when it ceases to be your primary residence.

Forgivable loans will disappear if you meet the criteria, which usually comes down to keeping the home as your primary residence for a specific amount of time.

Okay with that, here are the programs!

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Housing Home First Program

  • What It Offers: Up to $15,000 in cash assistance for down payment and closing costs.

  • Who Qualifies: First-time homebuyers (and repeat buyers in targeted areas) with a minimum credit score of 620.

  • Income Limits: Varies by county and household size (typically up to $167,800 for some programs).

  • Repayment: Typically structured as a 0% interest second mortgage with no monthly payments. It is generally deferred (not automatically forgiven) and must be repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.

  • More Information: New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA)

New Hampshire Housing 1stGenHomeNH (New Addition)

  • What It Offers: A fixed $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.

  • Who Qualifies: First-generation homebuyers (meaning you and your parents/guardians have not owned a home in your lifetime) purchasing a primary residence in NH.

  • Repayment: 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. Repayment is due in full upon sale, refinance, or transfer of the property.

  • More Information: https://www.gonewhampshirehousing.com/get-a-mortgage/mortgage-programs

NH Community Loan Fund Welcome Home Loans (New Addition)

  • What It Offers: The "Your Turn" program provides up to $35,000 for down payment and closing costs.

  • Who Qualifies: Specifically for buyers purchasing manufactured homes in Resident-Owned Communities (ROCs) or on their own land.

  • Repayment: Deferred until the first mortgage is paid off, the home is sold/refinanced, or the owner no longer occupies the home.

  • More Information: NH Community Loan Fund

City of Nashua HOME Program

  • Assistance: Provides up to $10,000 as a deferred conditional grant for down payment and closing costs.

  • Terms: 0% interest loan; generally forgivable after 5 years (20% forgiven per year) if the borrower remains in the home as their primary residence.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers purchasing within Nashua; household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

  • More Information: https://www.nashuanh.gov/1594/First-Time-Homebuyer-Assistance-Program

City of Portsmouth HomeTown Program

  • Assistance: Financial assistance for down payment and closing costs, often layered as second and third mortgages.

  • Terms: Deferred 0% interest loans. Repayment is typically deferred for a set number of years (e.g., 10 years) or until the property is sold, transferred, or refinanced.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers who meet income limits and have lived or worked in Portsmouth for a specified period (e.g., 2+ years).

  • More Information: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/community/first-time-homebuyer-program-home-town

Updated 1/23/2026

These programs can only be handled by approved lenders. If you would like help from a local realtor familiar with the programs and lenders, fill out this form here and I will connect you with one.

I've included all of the links and contact info needed to do this on your own, the form is meant to make it easier.