See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Lincoln, NE (2026)
Lincoln is Nebraska's state capital and the second-largest city in Nebraska, anchored by the University of Nebraska and a steady, education- and government-driven economy. With a median home price near $310,000, Lincoln is more affordable than the national average but down payment hurdles still keep many first-time buyers on the sidelines. Lincoln buyers can stack significant assistance: the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) Homebuyer Assistance Program offers up to 5% of the purchase price (capped at $10,000) as a 1% second mortgage, and the FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-aside Program (HSP) provides up to $15,000 as a forgivable grant for buyers at or below 80% AMI. Locally, NeighborWorks Lincoln (administering City of Lincoln Urban Development funds) offers a 5% interest-free deferred loan covering down payment and closing costs, Hartland Homes' Homeownership Opportunity Program provides up to $20,000 in zero-interest, zero-payment assistance for new-construction homes, and Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln offers 0% interest mortgages for income-qualified families. Combining a NIFA HBA second mortgage with an FHLBank HSP grant and a NeighborWorks Lincoln deferred loan can stack tens of thousands of dollars toward a home purchase, making homeownership achievable with as little as $1,000 of buyer's own funds.
City Programs in Lincoln
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Housing Authority HCV Homeownership Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | Monthly homeownership assistance via Housing Choice Voucher payments | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Monthly homeownership assistance via Housing Choice Voucher payments
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Nebraska
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-aside Program (HSP) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
| NIFA First Home Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate NIFA first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, USDA or VA); no down payment assistance | Yes | View → |
| NIFA First Home Targeted Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates | No | View → |
| NIFA Homebuyer Assistance Program (HBA) | Repayable Loan | Up to 5% of purchase price as a 1%, 10-year second mortgage (NIFA program summary caps it at $10,000) | Yes | View → |
| NIFA Welcome Home Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate NIFA first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, USDA or VA); no down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of purchase price as a 1%, 10-year second mortgage (NIFA program summary caps it at $10,000)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln Homebuyer Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | Affordable home with 0% interest mortgage; sold at no profit | No | View → |
| Hartland Homes Homeownership Opportunity Program (HOP) | Deferred Loan | Up to $20,000 | Yes | View → |
| NeighborWorks Lincoln Homeownership Program | Deferred Loan | 5% of purchase price plus closing costs | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Affordable home with 0% interest mortgage; sold at no profit
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- 5% of purchase price plus closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. NIFA's statewide household income limit is $175,500 (effective 7/7/2025) and most local Lincoln programs target buyers at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Lancaster County. NeighborWorks Lincoln requires applicants to have at least $1,000 of their own money and continuous employment for the past 2 years. Lancaster County is also a NIFA Target Area, which means qualified veterans and certain buyers may not need to meet first-time buyer requirements.
Step 2: Complete approved homebuyer education. NeighborWorks Lincoln offers a HUD-approved series of four in-person classes, typically held on the second and third Mondays and Wednesdays of each month from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. The classes are open to all Lincoln residents regardless of income. Contact NeighborWorks Lincoln at 402-477-7181 to register.
Step 3: Contact a local housing partner. For NeighborWorks Lincoln down payment assistance, visit nwlincoln.org or call their office. For Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln applications (open August 15 through September 5 each year), call 402-477-9184. For new-construction options with Hartland Homes Homeownership Opportunity Program, contact Hartland Homes through Nebraska Housing Resource.
Step 4: Get pre-approved through a NIFA participating lender. NIFA loans must be originated by approved lenders. Your loan officer will determine which combination — HBA second mortgage, First Home Targeted Program, or Welcome Home Program — best fits your situation, and whether FHLBank Topeka HSP funds are available through that lender.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. NIFA's one-unit purchase price limit is $485,500. NeighborWorks Lincoln allows purchases anywhere within Lincoln city limits but offers special incentives, including loan forgiveness, for purchases in specific geographic areas. Hartland Homes assistance is restricted to their newly built homes in Lincoln.
Step 6: Submit your application. Plan for 30-60 days from contract to close. Your lender coordinates the first mortgage, NIFA second, and any FHLBank HSP or NeighborWorks Lincoln assistance. Buyers must contribute a minimum of $1,000 of their own money to most NIFA and NeighborWorks programs.
Step 7: Close on your home and maintain occupancy. NeighborWorks Lincoln assistance is due upon sale of the property or if the buyer no longer occupies as primary residence. FHLBank HSP requires 5 years of primary-residence occupancy for full forgiveness. NIFA HBA second mortgage is repayable over 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Lincoln?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price for these programs?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Are there special incentives for buying in certain Lincoln neighborhoods?+−
When does Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln accept applications?+−
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