By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 26, 2026

Boise ID Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

See programs you qualify for

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See how Boise's own HOP loan and Idaho Housing's down payment assistance fit a $484,800 median home, and which buyers each one serves.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$484,800
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$14,544
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$10k–$15k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
2 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Start with the program that matches the property: Boise's HOP lends as much as $45,000, or $65,000 on a land trust home, inside city limits for households earning between half and four-fifths of area median. Above that band, Idaho Housing's 8% second applies statewide.

City

Boise Homeownership Opportunity

Up to $45,000; $65,000 land trust

A deferred city loan as large as $45,000 for Boise homes, repaid at sale in proportion to the home's appreciation, for lower-income households.

State

Idaho Housing Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance

Up to 8% of the price

Repeat and first-time buyers earning up to $170,000 can borrow 8% of the price at most, paired with an Idaho Housing first loan.

Plan the cash

What buying in Boise costs

Median home value$484,800
3% down payment$14,544
Estimated closing costs$9,700–$14,500
Estimated cash before assistance$24,244–$29,044

Estimate only, not a quote. Two to three percent of Boise's $484,800 Census median: lender and title fees, escrow, prepaid homeowners insurance and Ada County property tax.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Boise

Boise Homeownership Opportunity Program (HOP)Maximum:Up to $45,000; $65,000 land trustBest fit:Boise households earning 50–80% of area medianRepayment / limit:Repay loan × appreciation at sale; Buyer pays 0.5% of the price
Idaho Housing Down Payment and Closing Cost AssistanceMaximum:Up to 8% of the priceBest fit:Buyers up to $170,000 who can carry a paymentRepayment / limit:Second repaid in monthly payments; Buyer brings 500 dollars

Mortgage options that may pair with assistance

These are financing routes, not additional cash awards. Eligibility and compatibility still depend on the lender and program rules.

HomeReady and Home Possible are conventional mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; FHA, VA and USDA loans are government-backed.

Make a decision

Find your best starting point

Income 50% to 80% of AMI

Get referred for HOP

Boise takes HOP referrals only from NeighborWorks Boise and LEAP Housing, which qualify income and arrange the first mortgage before the city underwrites.

Buying a land trust home

Ask for the 65,000 dollar limit

HOP raises its maximum to $65,000 on land trust or deed-restricted homes, but resale is capped at the price plus 1.5% a year.

Earning above HOP's range

Use Idaho Housing's second

Idaho Housing's second reaches 8% of the price for households earning up to $170,000, first-time or not, but the second carries a monthly payment.

Property and geography checks

Boise HOPWhere:Inside Boise city limits onlyGate:City inspection and environmental review before closing; 30-year fixed first loan; 45% DTI cap
HOP on manufactured homesWhere:Resident, nonprofit or owner-held landGate:On a foundation or tied to permanent utilities; PRICE-funded homes built after 1976
Idaho Housing assistanceWhere:Statewide through approved lendersGate:Idaho Housing first loan required; Finally Home! education; 500 dollars of the buyer's own funds
FHA and VA loansWhere:Owner-occupied Boise homesGate:Condos need project approval; HOP still expects the largest first loan the buyer can afford

The fastest way to avoid a bad match

Check the address, property type and price cap before comparing assistance amounts.

A larger advertised benefit doesn’t help if the home or lender is outside that program’s rules.

We’ll fill in its city and state on the free eligibility check. A mailing address that says Boise isn’t always inside city limits, so confirm with the program before you make an offer.

See the math

Three realistic purchase examples

Illustrations only. Approval, availability and program combinations depend on current rules.

HOP buyer on a $400,000 Boise house

Price$400,000
Down payment$12,000
Closing costs$9,500
Boise HOP deferred loan−$19,500
Estimated gap$2,000

The 2,000 dollars left is HOP's required buyer share of 0.5% of the price; the city sizes the award to the buyer's need.

Median Boise home with Idaho Housing

Price$484,800
Down payment$14,544
Closing costs$12,000
Idaho Housing second, 4%−$19,392
Estimated gap$7,152

A conventional Idaho Housing first loan with 3% down; borrowing the full 8% would raise the monthly payment.

Repeat buyer moving to a $550,000 house

Price$550,000
Down payment$19,250
Closing costs$13,500
Idaho Housing second, 5%−$27,500
Estimated gap$5,250

An FHA purchase by a buyer who owned before; Idaho Housing lends to repeat buyers too.

How to apply in Boise

  1. 1

    Start with a HOP partner

    NeighborWorks Boise or LEAP Housing

    These are the only two organizations that refer buyers to Boise's HOP. They review income, help secure the first mortgage and run the counseling the city requires.

    NeighborWorks (208) 258-6226; LEAP (208) 391-2823 · nwboise.org

  2. 2

    Complete Finally Home!

    Finally Home! homebuyer education

    Both HOP and Idaho Housing accept Finally Home!, and Idaho Housing requires it. HOP also accepts another HUD-approved homeownership course.

    finallyhome.org

  3. 3

    Clear the city's review

    City of Boise Housing and Community Development

    City staff inspect the home to a HUD standard, complete an environmental review and issue a commitment letter before closing; plan for that time in the contract.

    (208) 570-6830 · cityofboise.org

  4. 4

    Price Idaho Housing's second

    Idaho Housing-approved lender

    Buyers above HOP's income band, or outside Boise, ask an approved lender to compare an Idaho Housing loan with and without the second mortgage.

    idahohousing.com

  5. 5

    Look at land trust homes

    LEAP Housing Trust

    LEAP sells homes on trust land, where HOP can lend up to $65,000 and a 50-year lease keeps resale prices within reach of later buyers.

    info@leaphousing.org · leaphousing.org

Free eligibility check

2 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in Boise. See which ones fit you.

  • Free
  • No credit check
  • Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

YesNoNot sure
Question 1 of 6
HouseBuyerGuides.comhousebuyerguides

Local details matter

Buying considerations in Boise

City inspection comes first

Every HOP home is inspected by city staff and must be move-in ready without major repairs, so fixer-uppers that a lender might accept can still fail Boise's review.

Manufactured homes can qualify

Boise's 2025 PRICE award lets HOP finance manufactured homes in resident-owned, nonprofit or land trust communities, or on land the buyer owns.

Liquid assets over 35,000 dollars

HOP buyers with more than $35,000 in savings or investments must put the excess into the purchase before the city adds its loan.

Ada County property tax

Census ACS 2020-2024 puts the typical Boise owner's tax bill at $2,883, about 0.59% of the median home value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone who owned a home before use Boise's HOP?+
Yes; no first-time rule appears in the city's 2025 HOP policy. The limits are income, between half and four-fifths of area median, a home inside Boise city limits, and no non-occupant co-borrower. Every person on the loan must live in the home, and their income counts toward the limit.
How much does Boise get back when I sell a HOP home?+
You repay the original loan times the home's appreciation, capped at your net proceeds. For example, a 30,000 dollar HOP loan on a 400,000 dollar purchase later sold for 480,000 dollars is repaid as 30,000 times 1.2, or 36,000 dollars. Land trust homes follow the resale formula instead.
Can I use HOP for a home in Meridian or Garden City?+
No. HOP funds only properties inside Boise city limits, so check the city boundary rather than the mailing address. Idaho Housing's second mortgage works statewide and may be available to buyers in neighboring Ada County cities.
Why does Boise ask about my savings?+
It matters because HOP buyers with more than 35,000 dollars in liquid assets must put the excess toward the purchase first. The city also expects buyers to keep at least two months of housing payments in savings after closing and to contribute 0.5% of the price themselves.
Is Idaho Housing's assistance a grant?+
No. It is a second mortgage capped at 8% of the sales price, repaid in monthly installments alongside the first loan, so it raises the monthly payment. Repeat buyers may use it; it requires Finally Home! education and 500 dollars of your own money, and is limited to incomes up to $170,000.

Buying elsewhere in Idaho? Compare all Idaho home buyer programs →

Sources

Last verified October 26, 2026.

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