Nurse Homebuying Eligibility

For registered nurses balancing demanding careers with personal aspirations, homeownership represents a significant milestone. While the average RN in the U.S. earns approximately $98,430 annually as of 2025, the national median home price of $424,900 can make purchasing property challenging—especially for first-time buyers.

Thankfully, several specialized programs exist to help nurses achieve their homeownership dreams.

First-Time Homebuyer Opportunities for Nurses

Even if you’ve previously owned property, you might still qualify as a “first-time homebuyer” if you haven’t owned a home in the last three years. This classification opens doors to various assistance programs. Oftentimes people need take out a mortgage to buy a house, with home loan options below to assist nurses.

Key Financing Options

FHA Loans

• Flexible approval guidelines ideal for first-time buyers
• Down payments as low as 3.5%
• Accessible for credit scores between 580-620
• Designed to accommodate individuals with lower credit scores

USDA Loans

• Zero down payment requirement
• Competitive interest rates
• Available for homes in designated rural areas (including some suburbs)
• Subject to income requirements

National Homebuyers Fund

• Covers up to 5% of mortgage loans
• Can be applied to down payment or closing costs
• Includes grant options that don’t require repayment

Medical Professional Mortgages

Healthcare professionals face unique financial circumstances, including student loan debt and non-traditional earnings trajectories. In response, many lenders offer specialized mortgages for medical professionals, with programs increasingly expanding to include nurses with various credentials:

• RN (Registered Nurse)
• APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse)
• NP (Nurse Practitioner)
• CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)
• DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

Note that lenders may offer a “medical professional mortgage” which typically is for doctors and dentists only, but recently some of these are extending to nurses. Benefits and requirements vary significantly between lenders, making comparison shopping essential for securing optimal rates and terms.

Nurse-Specific Homebuying Programs

Beyond general financing options and medical professional mortgages, nurses can access programs created exclusively for healthcare workers and public service professionals.

Nurse Next Door

Benefits:

• Down payment assistance up to $15,000
• Grants up to $8,000
• Potentially higher assistance in high-cost areas

Funding Source: Nurse Next Door is funded by various nonprofit organizations and local housing authorities supporting healthcare professionals

Requirements:

• Active employment in healthcare
• Meeting specific income limits
• Demonstrated community service commitment

Homes For Heroes

Benefits:

• Discounts on agent fees, mortgage lending, and related services
• Average savings of $3,000
• Doubled savings for those simultaneously selling a home

Funding Source: A for-profit organization partnering with real estate professionals who voluntarily offer discounts to community heroes

Requirements:

• Registration on the Homes For Heroes website
• Proof of healthcare employment
• No income restrictions

These specialized programs recognize nurses’ contributions to community wellbeing by making homeownership more accessible through financial assistance and professional guidance.

Talk to a home loan professional today to help navigate available nurse programs.