🔷 Turn the page on renting—explore affordable NH Housing mortgage programs and down payment assistance options that can be originated through Bookend Lending LLC, a proud third-party originator for NHHFA (New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority). These programs feature low down payments, reduced mortgage insurance, and flexible underwriting to help more Granite Staters achieve homeownership.
🏡 Popular Programs at a Glance
1. Home Preferred (Conventional Loans)
Available in several versions depending on whether your qualifying income is above or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)—which is the average income level for your town or region.
👉 Use the Fannie Mae Area Median Income Lookup Tool to check your local AMI.
Program Options:
- Home Preferred (Above 80% of AMI)
Income limit: $176,200 (based on qualifying income) - Home Preferred (Below 80% of AMI)
Income limits vary by town and county. Borrowers below 80% of their area’s median income may qualify for lower mortgage insurance costs and improved pricing. - Home Preferred Plus
Adds $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 in down payment assistance to any Home Preferred option. - Home Preferred ROC
Specifically designed for manufactured homes in Resident-Owned Communities (ROCs).
Seller-Paid Closing Costs for Home Preferred Loans:
- Up to 3% of the sale price if your down payment is less than 10%
- Up to 6% if your down payment is 10% or more
(Must be negotiated in the contract and cannot exceed actual costs)
2. Home First
This program supports first-time buyers, qualified veterans, and buyers in targeted communities. It offers lower interest rates and lower income limits than Home Preferred.
- Fixed-rate conventional loans
- Government-backed loans: FHA, VA, or USDA
- FHA: Federal Housing Administration
- VA: Department of Veterans Affairs
- USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
- Optional down payment assistance of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000
Home First Income Limits (in most areas):
- $125,900 for 1–2 person households
- $144,700 for 3+ person households
Targeted Community Income Limits:
- $151,000 for 1–2 person households
- $176,200 for 3+ person households
👉 Targeted communities include: Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Dover, Goffstown, Laconia, Lancaster, Littleton, Manchester, Newmarket, Pittsfield, Portsmouth, Rochester, Somersworth, and Whitefield.
Seller-Paid Closing Costs for Home First
📌 Lenders refer to seller-paid closing costs as “seller concessions.”
- Conventional Loans
- Seller can pay up to 3% if your down payment is less than 10%
- Seller can pay up to 6% if your down payment is 10% or more
- (Must be negotiated into the purchase contract and limited to actual costs)
- Government Loans
- Seller may contribute up to 6% toward closing costs
- (Must be negotiated in advance and cannot exceed actual costs)
3. Home Flex (Government Loans Only)
For buyers using FHA, VA, or USDA financing.
- Flexible credit guidelines
- Available statewide
- Optional down payment assistance up to $15,000
- Income limit: $176,200
- Must meet all FHA, VA, or USDA loan rules
Seller-Paid Closing Costs:
- Sellers can pay up to 6% of the sale price toward closing costs and prepaid expenses
- (Limited to actual costs and must be negotiated into the purchase contract)
- These are known as “seller concessions”
💵 Down Payment Assistance (Cash Assistance)
All NH Housing programs—Home Preferred, Home First, and Home Flex—offer a “Plus” option that includes down payment and/or closing cost help.
- $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 available (based on income and availability)
- Provided as a second mortgage with:
- 0% interest
- No monthly payments
- Repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the loan
💡 “Cash Assistance” and “Down Payment Assistance (DPA)” mean the same thing and the terms are used interchangeably.
First Generation Buyer
If you, your parents, and your grandparents have never owned a home, you may qualify for an additional $10,000 in assistance! Click here to learn more about the First Generation program.
🛠️ Renovation Financing Available
Buying a home that needs work? Under the Home Flex Renovation option, you can roll up to $75,000 in renovation funds into your mortgage.
👉 Click here to learn more about FHA Renovation Loans
🔍 Do You Qualify?
Basic Program Requirements:
- Minimum Credit Score: 620
- Income Limits: Up to $176,200 (based on household size and program)
- Purchase Price Limits: Check by County
- Eligible Borrowers: First-time buyers, repeat buyers in targeted areas, and veterans
- Loan Types: Conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA
- Income Tiers: Use the Fannie Mae AMI Lookup Tool
📘 Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone be on the title but not on the loan?
Yes. For example, if a spouse has a credit score below 620, the other can qualify alone while both are on the title.
Are co-signers allowed?
Yes—co-signers are permitted under NH Housing programs.
What is Qualifying Income?
It’s the income used to calculate affordability. Some types of income can be excluded to help fit program limits. Your originator can help with this.
Can manufactured homes be financed?
Yes—if they were built after 1976 and are on a permanent foundation. In parks, only homes in Resident-Owned Communities (ROCs) are eligible.
Are homes with wells and septic systems allowed?
Yes. Homes with wells require a water quality test. FHA loans require at least 75 feet between the well and septic.
Is NH Housing only for first-time buyers?
No. Only the Home First program is limited to first-time buyers—and even that is waived in targeted communities.
Can NH Housing loans be used to refinance?
Yes! Ask your originator if refinancing with NH Housing is a good fit for you.
🤝 Your Story Starts Here
At Bookend Lending LLC, we help you begin your next chapter with confidence.
As a participating NH Housing third party originator, we can:
- Compare programs side-by-side
- Help you qualify for assistance
- Explain income limits and program eligibility
- Guide you from pre-approval to closing day
📞 Call or Text Renee Duval at 603-345-5644
🌐 Apply with Renee
📧 renee@bookendlending.com
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