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About the 1st Gen Home NH
The 1st Gen Home NH program, administered by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA), provides $10,000 in cash assistance to first-generation homebuyers purchasing a home in New Hampshire. The assistance is structured as a second mortgage with 0% interest and no monthly payments, and the loan is forgiven after four years as long as the buyer remains in the home as their primary residence. This program specifically targets buyers whose parents or legal guardians have never owned a home, addressing the wealth gap that makes homeownership significantly harder for families without generational real estate equity.
To qualify as a first-generation homebuyer under this program, neither the borrower nor any co-borrower can currently own or have previously owned a home, and their parents or legal guardians must not have owned a home during the borrower's lifetime. Buyers who were in foster care at any point, or who legally reside in the United States as refugees or under asylum status, also qualify regardless of their parents' homeownership history. The program requires buyers to meet NH Housing's income and purchase price limits, which vary by town and county. Borrowers must finance through an NH Housing mortgage program using an approved lender and complete face-to-face homebuyer education through AHEAD, HOMEteam, or the Housing Partnership.
What sets the 1st Gen Home NH program apart from other New Hampshire Housing assistance options is its focus on first-generation buyers specifically and its forgivable structure. The NH Housing Home Preferred Plus and Home Flex Plus programs offer up to $15,000 in forgivable assistance, but they are available to any first-time buyer meeting income limits. The 1st Gen Home NH program can potentially be combined with other NH Housing cash assistance products, giving first-generation buyers access to more total assistance. However, this is a limited pilot program offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and funding may not always be available.
How much assistance
Eligibility
- Income limits: Must meet income and purchase price limits for the town/city in which the property is located
- First-time buyer required: Yes — First-generation homebuyer: borrower (and co-borrower) must not currently nor have previously owned a home, AND their parents/legal guardians must not currently nor have previously owned a home during the borrower's lifetime. Also eligible: persons who were in foster care or who legally reside in the US as refugees or under asylum status.
- Geographic restrictions: Must purchase a single-family primary residence (1-4 units) in New Hampshire.
- Homebuyer education required: Yes
How to Apply for 1st Gen Home NH
Step 1: Confirm your first-generation homebuyer status
Neither you nor any co-borrower can currently own or have previously owned a home. Your parents or legal guardians must not have owned a home during your lifetime. If you were in foster care at any point, or if you legally reside in the US as a refugee or under asylum status, you qualify regardless of your parents' homeownership history. Your non-borrowing spouse (if applicable) must also not currently own or have previously owned a home.
Step 2: Complete face-to-face homebuyer education
NH Housing requires completion of an in-person homebuyer education course through one of three approved providers: AHEAD (603-225-0010), HOMEteam (603-225-1548), or the Housing Partnership (603-444-1377). The course typically takes 6 to 8 hours and covers budgeting, the mortgage process, home maintenance, and avoiding predatory lending. You must complete education before your loan can close.
Step 3: Find an NH Housing approved lender
You must finance through an NH Housing mortgage program using one of their approved lenders. A list of approved lenders is available at gonewhampshirehousing.com/lenders. Not all lenders offer the 1st Gen Home NH product, so confirm availability when you call. The lender will process both your NH Housing first mortgage and the $10,000 second mortgage together.
Step 4: Get pre-approved and verify income and purchase price limits
Your lender will verify that your household income and target purchase price fall within NH Housing's limits for the town where you plan to buy. These limits vary by location across New Hampshire. Provide your last two years of tax returns, last 30 days of pay stubs, last two months of bank statements, and photo ID.
Step 5: Find a home within program guidelines
The property must be a 1 to 4 unit single-family home in New Hampshire that will serve as your primary residence. Work with your real estate agent to find homes within the purchase price limits for your target town.
Step 6: Close on your home and receive your $10,000
Your lender submits the 1st Gen Home NH reservation and processes both your first mortgage and the $10,000 second mortgage at closing. The $10,000 carries 0% interest with no monthly payments, and it is forgiven after four years of continuous owner occupancy. If you sell, refinance, or move out before four years, you must repay the $10,000.
Real Cost Example
On a $445,000 home in Manchester, New Hampshire, an FHA loan requires a 3.5% down payment of $15,575. The 1st Gen Home NH program provides $10,000 toward that down payment, reducing the buyer's out-of-pocket down payment to $5,575.
Estimated closing costs in Manchester run $9,000 to $13,500. After covering the remaining down payment gap, the buyer would need approximately $14,575 to $19,075 total for the remaining down payment plus closing costs. The $10,000 from 1st Gen Home NH is forgiven after four years, so buyers who stay in the home owe nothing back on that assistance.
If a first-generation buyer also qualifies for the NH Housing Home Preferred Plus program (up to $15,000 forgivable loan), the combined $25,000 in assistance would cover the full FHA down payment plus a large portion of closing costs. This combination could reduce the total cash needed at closing to roughly $575 to $4,075, depending on actual closing costs. Contact an NH Housing approved lender to confirm whether both programs can be stacked on the same transaction.
Combining With Other Programs
The 1st Gen Home NH program is offered through the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority mortgage programs, and first-generation buyers may be able to combine this $10,000 with other NH Housing cash assistance products. The NH Housing Home Preferred Plus with Cash Assistance offers up to $15,000 as a forgivable loan, and the NH Housing Home Flex Plus with Cash Assistance also provides up to $15,000 forgivable. Buyers should confirm with their NH Housing approved lender whether the 1st Gen Home NH funds can be stacked with one of these programs.
The NH Housing Community Heroes Initiative provides a $3,000 closing cost credit for eligible community workers, which could add another layer of assistance for qualifying first-generation buyers. The NH Housing Home Start Homebuyer Tax Credit (MCC) provides up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits, which does not involve a second mortgage and can typically be combined with any NH Housing first mortgage product.
One important limitation is that all NH Housing assistance programs require the buyer to use an NH Housing first mortgage through an approved lender. Buyers cannot mix and match these programs with non-NH Housing financing. The 1st Gen Home NH program is also a limited pilot with restricted funding, so availability depends on remaining funds at the time of application.
Pros and Cons
The most notable advantage of the 1st Gen Home NH program is its forgivable structure. After four years of owner occupancy, the $10,000 is fully forgiven with no repayment required. This makes it more favorable than the NH Housing First and First Plus program, which provides up to $15,000 but as a deferred loan that must be repaid when you sell or refinance. For buyers who plan to stay in their home at least four years, the 1st Gen Home NH is effectively a $10,000 grant. The program's expanded eligibility for former foster youth, refugees, and asylum seekers also opens homeownership to groups that many other programs overlook.
On the downside, the first-generation homebuyer requirement is significantly more restrictive than a standard first-time buyer definition. If either of your parents owned a home at any point during your lifetime, you do not qualify, even if you personally have never owned property. The program is also a limited pilot with restricted funding, meaning it may not be available when you are ready to buy. Buyers who do not meet the first-generation definition but still need assistance should consider the NH Housing Home Preferred Plus or Home Flex Plus programs, which offer up to $15,000 in forgivable assistance for any qualifying first-time buyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay back the 1st Gen Home NH $10,000?+−
What does first-generation homebuyer mean for this program?+−
Can I combine 1st Gen Home NH with other NH Housing assistance?+−
Is 1st Gen Home NH always available?+−
Can I use 1st Gen Home NH with an FHA or VA loan?+−
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Program details last verified: May 12, 2026