First-Time Home Buyer Loans
Programs Designed to Support First-Time Buyers from a Certified Idaho Housing Lender
As a certified Idaho Housing lender, we help eligible buyers access benefits like:
- Low mortgage rates
- Down payment and closing cost assistance
- Low or no mortgage insurance
- Homebuyer education
- Free housing counseling
- Loans serviced in Idaho
You may also qualify for additional benefits through rural development programs, including:
- Down payments as low $500
- Very low fees
- The rate you see is the rate you get!*
*OAC
Finding the Right First-Time Home Buyer Loan
We partner with multiple lenders and local resources to help you find the best fit for your situation. Our network offers access to:
- Conventional First Home Buyers Loans: Traditional fixed‑rate mortgages with competitive rates and predictable payments
- FHA Loans: Government‑insured options with low down payment requirements
- State‑Level Programs: Down payment assistance and loan programs through Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) and related entities
- Guided Education & Support: Helpful advice and tools throughout the process, from pre‑approval to closing
These options can make homeownership possible even with limited savings or a tighter credit profile.
Who Qualifies as a First‑Time Home Buyer?
In Idaho and many national programs, you’re typically considered a first‑time home buyer if you haven’t owned a primary residence in the past three years. Some exceptions apply, including for single parents or spouses.
Even if you’ve owned a home in the past, you may still qualify. We’re happy to help you explore your options.
Let’s move from pre-qualified
to pre-approved!
Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education is one of the smartest moves you can make when purchasing a home, and it may be required for some of our loan products. Take the Finally Home! homeowner course early in the home-buying process.
Beehive offers mortgages, including in areas covered by flood insurance requirements. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a Federal program providing flood insurance, floodplain management, and the development of flood hazard zones. Flood insurance is required by federal law for members borrowing funds in high-risk zones.
Can I get out of the requirement to have flood insurance? Members can hire a qualified surveyor to perform an elevation certificate on their home. This certificate can be sent with an application to FEMA for a letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). LOMA is an official amendment, by letter, to an effective NFIP map. A LOMA establishes a property’s location in relation to the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). LOMAs are usually issued because a property has been inadvertently mapped as being in the floodplain, but is actually on natural high ground above the base flood elevation. Because a LOMA officially amends the effective NFIP map, it is a public record that the community must maintain.