Increase your buying power in Montana
17 homebuyer assistance programs in Montana put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 17 programs tell us about buying in Montana
NeighborWorks carries Montana
Nonprofits run 12 of 17 programs, led by NeighborWorks Montana and NeighborWorks Great Falls.
Big loans, little free money
Only 1 of 17 programs is a grant or forgivable loan, but deferred awards reach $40,000 to $90,000 with no payments for years.
Western Montana pays the most
The Human Resource Council lends up to $90,000 in Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties to close the gap between price and what a lender will finance.
How the help arrives · 17 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
1 more pays a percentage of the price or loan, which scales with the home you buy. Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
6 programs are available statewide. 11 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 17 Montana programs and 5 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in Montana
A few of the 17 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
Bond Advantage Down Payment Assistance
Montana Board of Housing5% of the price up to $15,000 ($1,500 minimum), paired with a Montana Board of Housing first mortgage.
Plus 0% Deferred Down Payment Assistance
Montana Board of HousingUp to 5% of the price, capped at $15,000, at 0% with no monthly payments.
State HOME Deferred Second Mortgage
NeighborWorks Montana$2,500 to $50,000, or up to $65,000 for households with a member with a disability, at or below 80% of area median income.
First-time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance
Human Resource Council (District XI)Fills the gap between the price and the most a lender will finance, for households at or below 80% of area median income.
Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance
NeighborWorks Montana$2,500 to $25,000, up to $40,000 in some cases, for households up to 125% of county median income.
Down Payment Assistance
Salish and Kootenai Housing AuthorityFrom 4% of the price up to $15,000 for members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
5 multi-state programs also serve Montana
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
FHLBank Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative
Forgivable loan · 13 states Check eligibilityThese are 3 of the 5 multi-state programs open to Montana buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in Montana
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every Montana program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
Montana homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Montana?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 9 Montana programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $20,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
1 of the 17 active programs (6%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 10 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 1 of the 17 Montana programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. Montana has 6 programs available statewide and 11 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in Montana, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.