Assistance program · Nebraska
Welcome Home Assistance (WHA)
Nebraska state authority option that adds a second loan for the down payment and closing costs to the Welcome Home mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; the page does not state the amount
At a glance
- Kind of help
- Type not stated
- The source does not say the type of help
- First-time buyer?
- No
- No first-time requirement
- Minimum credit score
- 640
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- The source does not say the type of help
What it gives
Source text
Welcome Home Assistance is designed for eligible first-time and repeat homebuyers who need help with down payment and closing costs. Income limits and purchase price limits apply. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
First-time and repeat homebuyers are eligible for the NIFA Welcome Home Program. … If you are a "First-Time Homebuyer," Homebuyer Education will be required prior to closing. … NIFA Household Income Limit is $182,800 effective 7/13/2026. … NIFA's purchase price limit is $485,500 for one unit and $607,000 for two units, effective 7/13/2026. … You must occupy the home as your primary residence within 60 days of the loan closing. … The minimum credit score requirement is 640 with a maximum total DTI ratio of 45%. - First-time buyers only No
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score 640
- Income limit A flat cap; see the source
- Price limit $485,500
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of Nebraska
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Nebraska
The program covers all of Nebraska. The first column is Nebraska's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The program's maximum price, $485,500, is 103% above the typical home value in Nebraska ($238,600).
The typical home value ($238,600) fits within Nebraska's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program publishes an income cap of $182,800 for the household. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in Nebraska is $75,300.
| Figure | Nebraska | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $238,600 | $79,400 (Pawnee County) to $314,100 (Sarpy County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Adams County) to $603,750 (Gosper County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 93 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $75,300 | $75,300 (Antelope County) to $94,100 (Saunders County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Your income cannot go above $182,800
According to its page, the cap counts the whole household's income.
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The home cannot cost more than $485,500
That is the maximum price the program publishes. Compare it with your area's typical home value in the table above.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 640
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 7 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Nebraska Investment Finance Authority.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- What is the most it gives, and how is it calculated?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Against the others
How it compares with Nebraska's other programs
The 2 programs we checked in Nebraska, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is the only one of Nebraska's 2 programs that says you do not need to be a first-time buyer. Its page publishes no amount with a figure; one of the 2 does. It is the only program in Nebraska on our list with "type not stated" help.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Home Assistance (WHA)this program | Type not stated | Not published | No | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program | Repayable | Up to 5% of the price | Yes | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
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Help and programs
Public charge and housing: what the rules say
Public charge: which housing help DHS may consider, who is exempt, how HUD prorates assistance for mixed-status families and where to get free advice.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.