Gillette’s home values move in lockstep with the weekly spot price of Powder River Basin coal and the Baker Hughes rig count for Campbell County. When Peabody or Arch announces quarterly contracts, DOM can swing from 45 days to under three weeks within a month. Savvy buyers track the Gillette News Record energy index; if it prints above 100 for two straight weeks, expect multiple-offer season.

• Spring (April–June) is list-heavy—miners receive tax refunds and list upgraded homes.
• Fall (August–September) favors buyers: inventory lingers as crews head to North Dakota harvest.
• Winter can bring distressed properties when overtime hours dip and sellers need liquidity for holiday expenses.

NMHL issues a free Energy Market Rate Alert text every Friday; reply LOCK and we’ll hold your rate for 60 days while you shop.

Wyoming’s 0 % state income tax grabs headlines, but Gillette’s property-tax picture is just as sweet. Campbell County levies 0.65 % of assessed value, and assessment ratio is 9.5 % for residential. On a $265,000 purchase, annual tax runs about $1,635—roughly $135/month—before the state’s $800 homestead refund if you earn under $76,200.

Sample escrow breakdown:

• Principal & Interest (4.75 % 30-yr): $1,090
• Taxes: $135
• Homeowners Insurance: $95
• Mortgage Insurance (FHA): $185
• Total PITI: $1,505

Energy-sector employees often opt for a 15-year conventional to mirror boom-time cash flow; payment jumps to $1,890 but saves $139,000 in interest over the life of the loan.

If you haul overburden at Belle Ayr or Eagle Butte, South Gillette shaves 12–15 minutes off the drive via Garner Lake Road. Expect 1990s tri-levels on quarter-acre lots, many with fenced yards for hunting dogs and RV parking. Median sale price last quarter was $249,000, but fully updated homes with granite and LVP flooring top out at $285k—still under the citywide median.

Westover, by contrast, sits closer to Hwy 14-16 for contractors who alternate between Gillette and Wright. The subdivision has seen a surge of new builds since 2020; 1,600 sq-ft ranch plans start at $269k with 95 % efficiency gas furnaces standard—crucial when January averages 8 °F. HOA fees are $180/year and cover snow removal on private drives, a perk when 12-hour shifts leave no time to shovel.

Both neighborhoods feed into Twin Spruce Elementary (8/10 rating), keeping resale demand steady even during energy downturns.

Campbell County’s moderate-income status unlocks multiple layers of assistance. Here’s how NMHL typically stacks them for a $265,000 purchase:

1. WCDA First-Time Homebuyer Advantage—0 % second mortgage up to $10,000 forgiven after five years.
2. WCDA Spruce Up—$5,000 for appliances or fencing if the home is over 10 years old.
3. NMHL Community Match—we contribute 1 % of loan amount toward closing if you complete a free 2-hour online homeowner course.

Combined, a first-time buyer can walk to closing with as little as $4,400 out-of-pocket on a $265k home—about half the cost of the typical 3.5 % down payment alone.

If you’ve owned before, you’re still eligible for the Restart Program after three years of ownership, and veterans can swap the $10,000 forgivable loan for an additional 0.25 % rate reduction through our Hometown Hero pricing.

Big banks see a 620 FICO and a Schedule C loss and hit delete. We see a Gillette contractor who bought a new welding rig and depreciated it under Section 179. Our proprietary Energy-Flex guidelines allow:

• FHA down to 580 with 3.5 % down, or 550 with 10 % down and two months reserves.
• Bank-statement loans averaging 24 months, counting 100 % of deposits after eliminating obvious transfers.
• One-year tax-return program for borrowers whose second year was impacted by mine closures or rig stacking.
• Compensating factors: 401(k) liquid, low payment shock (< 25 % increase), or vested coal-royalty income.

We also ignore medical collections under $3,000 and treat late student-loan payments during the COVID forbearance as satisfied. Last month we closed a VA IRRRL for a miner whose mid-score was 565; rate reduction saved him $312/month and paid for his daughter’s rodeo-queen travel trailer.

Start with our Campbell County Quick App—it asks for wages, tips, royalties, and per-diem so we capture every energy-sector dollar. Upload one month of pay stubs or three months of bank statements; our AI income engine will issue a pre-approval letter with purchase-price bands for South Gillette, Sunflower, or new builds in North Pointe.

We’ll then search WCDA and national down-payment-assistance databases against your census tract and occupation. You’ll receive a Grant-O-Meter summary showing total assistance, interest rate, and monthly PITI before you ever tour a home.

Finally, we connect you with Realtors on our Energy Alliance roster—agents who understand 14-day hitches and can write an offer that protects your earnest money if a last-minute rig move pops up.

Ready to own a piece of the Energy Capital? Call 307-555-LOAN or click Apply Now and mention code GILLETTE17 for a free appraisal credit—up to $750—when you close by December 31.