Program guide
What to know before you click through
This is still the free fact layer. Open the official source when a detail affects eligibility, repayment, lender choice, or whether this path should stay on your shortlist.
Who qualifies?
Low- to moderate-income North Dakota homebuyers, Borrowers buying a one- or two-unit property, with one unit occupied by the borrower, Borrowers using an eligible ND Housing mortgage with a participating lender
What support do you get?
Three percent of the first mortgage loan amount as a credit toward the buyer's out-of-pocket cash requirement for down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items.
Do you repay it?
The cited Start section describes the assistance as a credit toward the buyer's out-of-pocket cash requirement and does not publish a separate repayable second lien or monthly payment on the public page.
How do you apply?
Work with an ND Housing participating lender, verify that Start is the right assistance path for the household, and pair the 3 percent credit with an eligible ND Housing mortgage without stacking another down-payment-assistance program.
Application timing
Participating lenders reserve the underlying NDHFA mortgage online; the loan must receive compliance approval and close within 60 days for existing homes or 300 days for new construction, with up to a 30-day extension, and the complete origination package is due within 15 days after closing.
Official source evidence
The official ND Housing Homeownership page says Start provides low- to moderate-income buyers with down-payment and closing-cost assistance equal to 3 percent of the first mortgage loan amount in the form of a credit toward out-of-pocket cash requirements. The page also says Start cannot be used with any other down-payment-assistance program and can only be used on one- to two-unit properties with one unit occupied by the borrower.
View official source
Last verified
2026-04-19
Effective date not captured.
Paid preview
What paid access adds for ND Housing Start
See the shape of the comparison output, risk checks, lender questions, and next-step checklist before you decide whether this program is worth carrying into the paid layer.
Example paid output for this program. The free page stays visible either way.
Comparison preview
ND Housing Start
Amount: Three percent of the first mortgage loan amount as a credit toward the buyer's out-of-pocket cash requirement for down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items.
Repayment: The cited Start section describes the assistance as a credit toward the buyer's out-of-pocket cash requirement and does not publish a separate repayable second lien or monthly payment on the public page.
First-time buyer: Varies
Timing: Participating lenders reserve the underlying NDHFA mortgage online; the loan must receive compliance approval and close within 60 days for existing homes or 300 days for new construction, with up to a 30-day extension, and the complete origination package is due within 15 days after closing.
Risk checks preview
What gets flagged before you call a lender
- ND Housing Start requires a participating lender.
- ND Housing Start must be paired with a specific first mortgage.
Lender questions preview
Questions tied to this exact path
- Is your team approved to originate ND Housing Start for this household and loan setup?
- Which first-mortgage product must be paired with ND Housing Start, and what breaks eligibility?
Action checklist preview
What you would do next
- Review the official Homeownership page for ND Housing Start
- Ask whether your lender is approved for this exact program and loan structure.
