Skiing, biking, hiking, camping and more — if you live in Montana, you have a host of excuses to enjoy the outdoors. The big sky can’t be your only roof, though. If you’re a first-time homebuyer in the state, a good baseline for beginning your search is the typical home value, which is currently about $328,800, according to Zillow.
Whether you’re looking for a remote property or hoping to settle down in the small-city vibe of Missoula, Montana Housing — the state’s housing finance authority — has a range of programs that can work with conventional, FHA, VA, USDA or Section 184 loans to make buying your first home more affordable.
Montana first-time homebuyer loan programs
Montana Housing considers you a first-time homebuyer as long as you haven’t owned a home in the last three years. If that description fits you, consider one of these options through the agency:
Montana Housing Regular Bond Program
Montana Housing’s main mortgage program for first-time homebuyers is the Regular Bond Program, which offers a low interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan.
Borrower requirements:
- Annual household income can’t exceed Montana Housing limits, which vary based on size of household and location of the home ($73,300 to $110,740)
- Must complete a homebuyer education course if all of the following apply: your credit score is below 680; your front-end ratio is above 31 percent; and your back-end (debt-to-income ratio) is above 41 percent
Property requirements:
- Can be a single-family home, condominium or manufactured home
- Can’t exceed Montana housing purchase price limits, which vary across the state from $294,600 to $475,535
Montana Housing 80% Combined Program
The 80% Combined Program allows first-time homebuyers to pair a Montana Housing-approved loan for 80 percent of the purchase price with another loan that covers the remaining 20 percent of the price. The second loan comes from one of the agency’s partners, such as NeighborWorks Montana or MoFi.
Borrower requirements:
- Must contribute at least $1,000 of your own funds to the purchase
- Minimum credit score of 640
- Maximum front-end ratio of 29 percent and back-end (DTI) ratio of 41 percent
- Must complete homebuyer education course
- Must adhere to same income and purchase price limits that apply to Regular Bond program
Montana Veterans’ Home Loan Program
If you’re a veteran in Montana and buying your first home, you could be eligible for the Montana Veterans’ Home Loan Program, which comes with an attractive below-market rate. You have to be buying your first-ever home to qualify, but there are no income limits, which can mean you’d be eligible even if you aren’t considered a low- or moderate-income household.
There is a limit on how much you can borrow, however — currently $279,870 — and you can only buy a single-family home or certain manufactured homes, not a condo. As with other Montana Housing loan programs, you’ll need to take a homebuyer education class. You’ll also need to supply at least $2,500 of your own funds to the purchase, which can go toward the down payment or closing costs.
Note that this program is first-come, first-served — your mortgage lender can give you the latest on availability.
Montana down payment assistance
If you’re paying monthly rent, you might be comfortable making a similar monthly mortgage payment, but not accumulating enough for a down payment and closing costs. To help you with that upfront expense, Montana Housing offers two down payment assistance options. To qualify for either, you’ll first need to be eligible for the Regular Bond Program.
1. Bond Advantage Down Payment Assistance Program
The Bond Advantage assistance program, a 15-year loan with monthly payments, can help you score up to 5 percent of your home’s sale price up to $10,000 for your down payment and closing costs.
Borrower requirements:
- Minimum credit score of 620 for every name on the loan
- Must contribute at least $1,000 of your money to the purchase
- Must qualify for a Montana Housing mortgage
2. MBOH Plus 0% Deferred Down Payment Assistance
With the MBOH Plus 0% Deferred option, you can receive up to 5 percent of your home’s sale price, up to a maximum of $6,500. The main difference between this and the Bond Advantage program is a lack of monthly payments. Instead, you must repay the assistance amount when you sell your home or pay off or refinance your first mortgage. There are no additional interest charges.
Borrower requirements:
- Minimum credit score of 620
- Maximum DTI ratio of 43 percent
- Maximum annual income of $55,000
- Must contribute at least $1,000 of your own cash to the purchase of the home
- Must qualify for a Montana Housing mortgage
Other Montana homebuyer assistance programs
Mortgage credit certificate (MCC)
If you don’t qualify for a Montana Housing mortgage, you might still have an opportunity to save as a first-time homebuyer by getting a mortgage credit certificate (MCC). In Montana, the MCC allows you to take a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on 20 percent of your mortgage interest, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year.
There is an upfront fee to obtain an MCC, however ($500 to Montana Housing, and your lender could charge an additional $250), but the fee can pay off over the lifetime of a mortgage, so it’s worth considering for the longer-term savings.
Local homebuyer assistance programs
If you’re looking to buy a home in Montana’s biggest city, you might be able to take advantage of another form of assistance. The City of Billings offers zero-interest, deferred-payment loans of up to $15,000 to first-time homebuyers. To qualify, you’ll need to meet certain income limits, and you’ll also need to time your application well: The funds typically become available in July and are often depleted by November each year.
Other first-time homebuyer loan programs
As you start searching for your first home in Montana and considering your mortgage options, take advantage of Bankrate’s guide to first-time homebuyer loans and programs to explore other offerings that might be available to you. These include FHA, VA and USDA loans, which have a low or no down payment and more flexible credit standards.
For other Montana homeownership programs, including by city and county, visit HUD.gov.
Get started
Ready to make your dream home in Montana a reality? Begin by comparing mortgage rates in Montana to understand today’s borrowing landscape at banks, credit unions and other mortgage lenders. If a Montana Housing loan seems like a fit for you, review the agency’s current rates and income and price caps. Once you know if you’re eligible, you can take a look at participating lenders and get the process started.
Whichever mortgage you choose, remember to compare multiple loan offers to find the deal that best suits your budget.
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