From the Haymarket’s converted 1890s warehouses to the family cul-de-sacs of Wilderness Hills, Lincoln delivers a neighborhood for every life stage and budget. Here’s what borrowers financing with NMHL are buying today:

• Haymarket & Downtown 68508: Median $315k, mostly lofts and walk-ups. HOA dues $180–$250, but you’re steps from the Railyard, Pinnacle Bank Arena, and the city’s best Air-bnb rents. Condos qualify for 3 % down conventional HomeReady if you make under $83k.
• Near South 68502: Tree-lined streets, early-1900s Craftsman, median $235k. Popular with UNL professors; property taxes run 1.72 %. NMHL’s 203(k) renovation loan bundles purchase plus $35k for electrical and porch restoration into one 30-year fixed.
• Havelock 68504: Lincoln’s original Scandinavian enclave; still affordable at $200k median. First-time buyers pair Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) grants with our Fresh-Start FHA for only $1,000 out-of-pocket.
• South Lincoln 68516: Newer builds, top-rated Schoo Middle School, median $290k. USDA eligible south of Saltillo Rd—zero-down, 1 % guarantee fee can be financed into the loan.
• Wilderness Hills & 84th & Yankee Ridge: Large lots, $350k–$425k. Strong appreciation (4 % annually). Jumbo loans kick in above $472k, but NMHL keeps jumbo rates within 0.125 % of conforming in Nebraska because of our low foreclosure stats.

Before you tour homes, text the address to 402-555-NMHL; we’ll reply with the exact mill levy, HOA cert cost, and whether flood zone A or B requires an extra $1,100 annual premium.

Lincoln buyers have more help than almost any Midwest city our size. Here’s how we layer programs at NMHL:

• Nebraska Step-Up: 5-year forgivable second up to $10k at 0 % interest; must be a first-time buyer or buying in a target area (most of 68503 qualifies). Combine with FHA 96.5 % or conventional 97 %.
• Lancaster County Workforce: $7,500 at 3 % simple interest, deferred until resale or refinance. Income cap $95k for 1–2 persons, $109k for 3+.
• Nebraska Recovery (for previous bankruptcy/foreclosure): $5,000 grant, no repayment if you stay 36 months. NMHL Fresh-Start overlays allow credit scores down to 500.
• HUD NeighborhoodLIFT: $15,000 on qualifying blocks north of O Street; free homebuyer class at the Malone Center every third Saturday.
• Teacher Next Door Nebraska: $5,000 for LPS, parochial, or university faculty; can be stacked with VA or conventional 3 % down.

We’ll run the math and show you the best stack—often trimming your cash-to-close to under $3,000 on a $260k purchase.

Home to the Nebraska National Guard and 55th Wing, Lincoln sees steady VA traffic. NMHL funds VA loans up to $1.5 million—even above Lancaster County’s $472,030 limit—with only a 1.25 % funding fee if you have a 10 % or greater service-connected disability rating. Surviving spouses and active Guard qualify for the same rate as active-duty. Our Lincoln-based VA team orders the NOE in 30 minutes and schedules appraisers who know local VA Minimum Property Requirements—so no delays for missing handrails on 1920s Near South porches. Combine with Nebraska Military & Veteran Affairs Down-Payment Assistance ($5,000) and waive the 1 % origination fee when you close in November—our Veterans Month special.

Nebraska’s gig economy—freelance ag-tech coders, CPA side hustles, and trucking owner-operators—often write off too much for a W-2 loan. NMHL’s 12- or 24-month bank-statement program qualifies you with deposits instead of tax returns, accepts as little as 10 % down, and keeps rates within 0.375 % of conventional. We’ve helped the owner of Honest Abe’s Food Truck buy a $300k new-build in The Ridge using 24 months of business statements, and a Lincoln-based travel-photography influencer close on a loft in Telegraph District with only 15 % down. No PMI required if you maintain a 700 score.

1. Get NMHL Pre-Approved in 20 Minutes: Upload two years W-2s, one month pay stubs, and bank statements through our secure portal. You’ll receive a same-day letter Realtors® recognize in Lincoln.
2. Take a Free City-Approved Course: Community Action Partnership at 210 O Street runs a HUD-certified class ($30) that satisfies NIFA and NeighborhoodLIFT requirements. Saturday zoom option available.
3. Pair Grant with Loan: We’ll show you three columns—FHA + Step-Up, conventional 97 + LIFT, USDA zero-down—so you can pick the lowest cash option.
4. House-Hunt Smart: Focus on listings 25–45 days on market; sellers often concede 2 %–3 % toward closing. Ask for a $400 NMHL appraisal credit if we can’t close in 30 days.
5. Inspection & Radon: 60 % of Lancaster County homes test above 4.0 pCi/L; negotiate seller mitigation ($900) or walk.
6. Close at a Lincoln Attorney Office: Capitol City Title and Lincoln Title & Escrow both offer NMHL clients a $200 discount on lender’s title when you mention pre-approval code NMHL-402.

Most first-time buyers are sipping local Zipline beer on their new deck within 45 days of our first phone call.