Regular Bond + Bond Advantage
What This Looks Like for a $350,000 Home in Montana
How Montana's First-Time Homebuyer Programs Work
Montana Housing offers Regular Bond + Bond Advantage to qualifying first-time buyers in Montana. Most Montana buyers pair this with an FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional 97 loan, using the DPA to cover the down payment, closing costs, or both. The DPA is structured as second mortgage.
Eligibility requirements
Most Montana HFA programs require: (1) you haven't owned a primary residence in the last 3 years, (2) household income under ~$109,000 (county-dependent), (3) minimum FICO score of 640-680, (4) the home is your primary residence, (5) you complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course (typically online, ~6-8 hours).
How to apply for Regular Bond + Bond Advantage
You don't apply directly through Montana Housing — you apply through one of their participating lenders. The agency lists approved lenders on their website. Get pre-approved with at least 2-3 of them: rates and fees vary, even within the same DPA program.
Combining Montana DPA with federal loans
Pair Regular Bond + Bond Advantage with FHA (3.5% down, 580+ FICO) for the easiest qualifying. Veterans should use VA loans (0% down) — DPA still helps with closing costs. Rural buyers should check USDA (0% down). Buyers with 3-5% down and good credit can use Conventional 97 or HFA Preferred for lower mortgage insurance.
Other Montana buyer benefits
Beyond DPA, ask your lender about: Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCC) for federal tax credits up to $2,000/year, employer-assisted housing programs (some Montana employers offer additional grants), and city/county DPA stacking (cities like the largest metros in Montana often add their own programs on top of state DPA).