Assistance program · New Mexico
FirstDown
New Mexico state agency fixed-rate second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers, together with the FirstHome mortgage
At a glance
- Kind of help
- Repayable
- Second loan with monthly payments
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Minimum credit score
- 620
- 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
- Second loan with monthly payments
What it gives
Source text
is a fixed-rate second mortgage loan program that provides down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers 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_Down_ must be combined with the First_Home_ program. … A minimum credit score of 620 is required. … All homebuyers must receive pre-purchase homebuyer counseling - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score 620
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement The source does not mention one — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Yes
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of New Mexico
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 New Mexico
The program covers all of New Mexico. The first column is New Mexico's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The program sets its maximum price in a table. Compare it with the typical home value in New Mexico: $248,100.
The typical home value ($248,100) fits within New Mexico's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in New Mexico is $59,050.
| Figure | New Mexico | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $248,100 | $78,700 (McKinley County) to $495,800 (Los Alamos County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Bernalillo County) to $692,300 (Los Alamos County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 33 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $59,050 | $58,300 (Catron County) to $106,800 (Los Alamos 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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Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Check your county's maximum price
The program sets a maximum price per county in its table.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. New Mexico has 7 agencies on HUD's list, and 4 serve people in Spanish.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 620
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 5 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Housing New Mexico.
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?
- 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?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- What rate and monthly payment does the second loan have?
Against the others
How it compares with New Mexico's other programs
The 4 programs we checked in New Mexico, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 3 programs in New Mexico, out of 4, that require being a first-time buyer. None of the 4 publishes an amount with the figure in its own wording. One other program in the state also gives "repayable" help: FirstDown Plus. 4 of the 4 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstDownthis program | Repayable | Not published | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| HomeNow | Forgivable | Not published | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| FirstDown Plus | Repayable | Not published | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| HomeForward Down Payment Assistance (DPA) | Type not stated | Not published | No | Yes | 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
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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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.
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.