First-time home buyer programs in Wyoming: assistance, loans and real costs
Start with the local reality: wyoming’s Home$tretch — up to $15,000 at 0% with no payment — is large relative to the state’s prices, and with no transfer tax and no state income tax, Wyoming is one of the cheapest states to buy and hold a first home.
| State housing agency | Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) |
|---|---|
| Median home price (approx.) | $350,000 — statewide order of magnitude; metros differ |
| 3.5% / 5% / 20% down | $12,250 / $17,500 / $70,000 on the median |
| Property tax (effective) | about 0.56% — roughly $1,960 a year on the median |
| Mortgage credit certificate | Not consistently offered — ask a lender |
| Transfer tax | Wyoming has no real estate transfer tax and no mortgage tax; only recording fees apply. |
The Wyoming housing agency’s programs
The Wyoming Community Development Authority’s Standard First-Time Homebuyer program offers below-market first mortgages, the HFA Preferred and Advantage programs serve other buyers, and the Home$tretch down payment assistance loan can be paired with most WCDA first mortgages.
How the assistance money works
Home$tretch provides up to $15,000 as a 0% second loan with no monthly payment, due on sale, refinance or payoff, to cover down payment and closing costs; a $1,500 minimum borrower contribution and homebuyer education are required.
Every assistance dollar comes in one of four shapes — grant, forgivable, deferred or repayable — and the shape decides what it costs you over ten years. Get it in writing before you apply. See how down payment assistance programs work.
Is there a first-time buyer tax credit?
WCDA does not currently operate a Mortgage Credit Certificate program; ask a participating lender about any tax credit option.
Income and purchase price limits
WCDA income limits vary by county and household size and purchase price limits apply (higher in targeted areas); a 620 minimum credit score is typical.
Closing costs, transfer taxes and who pays them in Wyoming
Wyoming has no real estate transfer tax and no mortgage tax; only recording fees apply.
Wyoming buyer closing costs typically total 2% to 3% of the price; title companies handle closings, and rural appraisals can take longer than elsewhere. Our guide to closing costs explains each line of the Loan Estimate and which fees you can shop.
The numbers on a typical Wyoming home
Worked on Wyoming’s rough $350,000 median (your county may be far above or below) at an illustrative 6.5%: down payment, loan amount, principal and interest, and the monthly share of property tax at the state’s approximate 0.56% effective rate, or about $1,960 a year. Exclude nothing else from your own budget — insurance, PMI, HOA dues all apply.
| Structure | Down payment | Loan amount | P&I at 6.5% (30 yr) | Property tax / mo (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA, 3.5% down | $12,250 | $337,750 | $2,135 | $163 |
| Conventional, 5% down | $17,500 | $332,500 | $2,102 | $163 |
| Conventional, 20% down (no PMI) | $70,000 | $280,000 | $1,770 | $163 |
Illustrative rate and approximate state figures — not an offer or a quote. Full payment tables cover $150,000 to $800,000 at 5% to 8%; the affordability guide explains how lenders size the loan.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wyoming have down payment assistance for first-time buyers?
Home$tretch provides up to $15,000 as a 0% second loan with no monthly payment, due on sale, refinance or payoff, to cover down payment and closing costs; a $1,500 minimum borrower contribution and homebuyer education are required. The agency publishes the current limits and amounts; a lender approved for the program will know them.
Is there a first-time home buyer tax credit in Wyoming?
WCDA does not currently operate a Mortgage Credit Certificate program; ask a participating lender about any tax credit option. An MCC must be issued at closing — it cannot be added to an existing loan — so ask about it before you choose a lender.
What are typical closing costs when buying a house in Wyoming?
Wyoming buyer closing costs typically total 2% to 3% of the price; title companies handle closings, and rural appraisals can take longer than elsewhere. Wyoming has no real estate transfer tax and no mortgage tax; only recording fees apply.
Before you apply
- Earnest money explained: how much, who holds it, and how you lose it
- Appraisal gap: what happens when the home appraises below your offer
- Down payment assistance programs: how they work and how to find yours
- How much house can I afford? The math lenders actually use
Also for this state: hard money rules in Wyoming · foreclosure in Wyoming.