NACA Purchase Program (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America)
No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, and no mortgage insurance for qualified members
NACA is a nonprofit that counsels you through its own qualification process and then brokers a fixed-rate mortgage with no down payment, no closing costs, no fees, and no mortgage insurance. Credit scores are not used. Instead NACA looks at your payment history and budget. Priority members, meaning households under 100% of area median income or buyers in NACA priority areas, get the lowest rate. Non-priority members pay a higher rate. NACA published 6.25% on a 30-year for priority members and 7.25% for non-priority members on 2026-09-23.
Funding was available the last time we checked.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Program terms change; confirm with the administrator before you rely on them.
At a glance
- Amount
- No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, and no mortgage insurance for qualified members
- Type of help
- Other help
- Where
- Nationwide
- Run by
- Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), a HUD-approved nonprofit housing counseling agency and licensed mortgage broker
- First-time buyer
- Repeat buyers welcome
- Income limit
- Yes, see below
- Homebuyer education
- Required
How the other help works
A special purchase path, discount, or loan type that lowers what you need at closing.
- Interest: Below-market fixed; 6.25% 30-year for priority members on 2026-09-23
- Monthly payment: Yes
Who qualifies
- Repeat buyers welcome. Repeat buyers can qualify, but you cannot own another home when you buy through NACA and you must live in the home as long as you have the NACA mortgage.
- Income. No hard income cap. Households at or below 100% of area median income, or anyone buying in a NACA priority area, are priority members and get the best rate. Higher-income buyers outside priority areas are non-priority members with a higher rate and tighter limits (checked 2026-09-23).
- Property types: Single-family, Townhouse, Condo, 2 to 4 units if owner-occupied, Mixed-use in some cases. Must be your primary residence.
- You become a NACA member, pay a membership fee, and agree to participate in NACA volunteer activities each year.
- Owner occupancy is required for as long as you hold the NACA mortgage. NACA members cannot own other property.
- Qualification is based on your budget and payment history, not a credit score. Recent late payments and unpaid collections usually have to be resolved first.
- Local offices: Washington, DC at 7731 Alaska Avenue NW; Baltimore at 11 E. Mt. Royal Avenue, Suite 101; Richmond at 1600 Brook Road, Suite C (checked 2026-09-23).
How to apply
- 1Attend a free NACA homebuyer workshop, in person at the DC or Baltimore office or online. You cannot start counseling until you have.
- 2Work with a NACA counselor to reach NACA Qualification. Expect several sessions on budget, payment history, and savings. This can take a few months, and it comes before you shop.
- 3Attend the purchase workshop, then search for a home with a NACA in-house agent or an approved outside agent.
- 4Get a ratified contract and submit your mortgage application through NACA. Clear the lender's conditions.
- 5Close in about 35 days or more, longer if the home needs renovation financing.
Watch out for
- NACA is a process, not a quick pre-approval. Plan on months of counseling before you are cleared to shop. Buyers who need to move in 60 days are usually a poor fit.
- No down payment and no closing costs does not mean no cash. You still need earnest money, inspection fees, and reserves that NACA sets during qualification.
- You must live in the home for as long as you have the NACA loan and cannot own other property. Investors and future landlords should look elsewhere.
- Rates change. The numbers here are the rates NACA posted on the day we checked.
- NACA has its own agent rules. If you already work with an agent, ask NACA how outside agents are approved before you sign anything.
NACA is a real path for a disciplined buyer with thin or bruised credit and a timeline measured in months. It is not a shortcut. If you go this route, tell me early so we work inside their process.
Straight answers
Is NACA really no down payment and no closing costs?
That is how NACA describes its mortgage: no down payment, no closing costs, no fees, and no mortgage insurance. You still bring earnest money and pay for your own inspection, and NACA requires savings reserves during qualification.
Does NACA check my credit score?
NACA says it does not consider credit scores. It reviews your actual payment history and budget instead, which means recent late payments and unresolved collections need to be addressed before you qualify.
Where is the nearest NACA office?
NACA lists offices in Washington, DC on Alaska Avenue NW, in Baltimore on E. Mt. Royal Avenue, and in Richmond on Brook Road. Workshops and counseling are also offered online.
Can I keep my own real estate agent?
NACA works with its in-house agents and with outside agents it has approved. Ask your counselor how to have your agent approved before you write an offer.
Sources
- NACA, Home Purchase Program (read Sep 23, 2026)
- NACA, home page with posted rates (as of 2026-09-23) (read Sep 23, 2026)
- NACA, Offices (read Sep 23, 2026)
Program details are summarized from public sources and change without notice. Funding badges reflect the last time we checked, not a guarantee of availability. This is buyer education from a real estate agent, not a loan pre-approval or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is decided by each program administrator and your lender. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Programs are the easy part. Timing is the hard part.
Most buyers lose assistance on a deadline, not on eligibility. Sean helps you map out the counseling, the lender conversation, and the contract dates so nothing slips.