Home buyer grants for veterans
Veterans and service members can pair a VA home loan, which often needs no down payment, with state grants and loans set aside for military buyers.
- State programs for veterans
- 11 in 11 states
- Largest open amount
- $60,000, Oregon
- VA home loan
- Often no down payment
State programs for veterans
| Program | State | Amount | Grant or loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) / Veteran DPA. Only for veterans and their families, including the spouse of a deceased veteran. | Oregon | Up to $60,000 | Grant |
| Florida Hometown Heroes Housing (HTH) Program. Florida Housing Finance Corporation | Florida | Up to 5% of the home loan, at most $35,000 | Deferred loan |
| North Carolina NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment. North Carolina Housing Finance Agency | North Carolina | Up to $15,000 | Forgivable loan |
| Georgia Dream Loan Program - Protectors, Educators & Nurses (PEN). Only for public protectors, educators, healthcare providers, workers in these industries, and active military. | Georgia | Up to 6% of the price, at most $12,500 | Repayable loan |
| Delaware Diamonds Home Loan. Only for essential workers in education and medical fields, first responders, and veterans. | Delaware | Up to $10,000 | Forgivable loan |
| Washington Veterans Downpayment Assistance Program. Washington State Housing Finance Commission | Washington | Up to $10,000 | Deferred loan |
| Iowa Military Homeownership Assistance Program. Only for service members, veterans and surviving spouses who served active duty Aug 2, 1990 to Apr 6, 1991 or Sept 11, 2001 to present. | Iowa | Up to $5,000 | Grant |
| Massachusetts $2,500 Closing Credit for Veterans and Service Members. Only for Members of the National Guard or Reserves, active-duty military, veterans, or Gold Star Families. | Massachusetts | Up to $2,500 | Grant |
| Utah Homebuyer Veteran Grant. Only for members of the military or veterans who separated in the last five years. | Utah | Up to $2,500 | Grant |
| DC4ME VA Loan Product. Only for veterans, active-duty service members, certain Reservists and National Guard members, and surviving spouses. | Washington, DC | Up to 3% of the home loan | Deferred loan |
| Homes for Texas Heroes Home Loan Program. Only for teachers and educators, police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, county jailers, corrections officers, and military veterans. | Texas | Up to 5% of the home loan | Grant or forgivable loan |
Each program's own page gives its income limit, credit score and how to apply. In every other state, veterans can use the same first-time buyer help as everyone else: pick your state or compare all states.
The VA home loan: often no down payment
- A VA-backed purchase loan often needs no down payment, as long as the price is not higher than the appraised value. VA says nearly 90% of its loans are made with nothing down.
- There is no private mortgage insurance (PMI) and no FHA-style mortgage insurance premium.
- Instead there is a one-time VA funding fee: 2.15% of the loan on a first purchase with less than 5% down. It can be added to the loan.
- Veterans who receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability, and surviving spouses who receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, do not pay the funding fee.
- With full entitlement there is no VA loan limit; the lender still decides how much you can borrow. VA sets no minimum credit score, though many lenders do.
- The first step is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which you can request online, through your lender or by mail. You must live in the home.
From VA's pages on the VA purchase loan, the funding fee and how to request a COE. Many state programs above work with a VA loan as the first mortgage.
Talk to a lender that works with programs for veterans
Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with your state's programs can tell you which ones fit you, including any for veterans.
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