The Nevada first-time buyer checklist.
From "I think I'm ready" to keys in hand — every step in order, with the documents, decisions, and milestones that actually matter.
Program figures verified July 2026 — details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Phase 1 — Before you start shopping
- ☐ Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus (free at annualcreditreport.com)
- ☐ Note your rough FICO score range — exact number not needed yet
- ☐ Add up your total available cash (checking, savings, brokerage, gift funds)
- ☐ Decide your rough target city or counties in Nevada
- ☐ Estimate your target purchase price range
- ☐ Identify income sources: W-2, self-employed, military, mixed
- ☐ Book a free 20-minute call with a lender (us, or one you trust)
- ☐ Have a rough timeline: Shopping in 30 days, 3 months, or longer?
Phase 2 — Pre-approval documents
Once you've decided to move forward, gather these. Most lenders need the same documents.
- ☐ Two most recent pay stubs
- ☐ Two years of W-2 forms
- ☐ Two years of personal federal tax returns (all schedules)
- ☐ Two most recent bank and asset statements (all pages, even blank ones)
- ☐ Photo ID (driver's license or passport)
- ☐ Authorization to pull credit
- ☐ If VA-eligible: DD-214 or statement of service
- ☐ If self-employed: Two years of business returns + year-to-date profit-and-loss statement
- ☐ If using gift funds: Signed gift letter from the giver
More on what each document does on the mortgage process guide.
Phase 3 — During shopping
- ☐ Get pre-approval letter in hand before you start touring homes
- ☐ Find a real-estate agent you trust — interview 2–3 if possible
- ☐ Talk through your offer strategy with both your agent and your lender
- ☐ Tour homes within your pre-approved range (don't push the ceiling)
- ☐ Refresh pre-approval letter if it expires before you find a home (free)
- ☐ Run scenarios on specific homes with your lender before making offers
Phase 4 — Under contract (the 30-day clock)
- ☐ Read your Loan Estimate (federally required, arrives within 3 days)
- ☐ Schedule and attend the home inspection
- ☐ Review the inspection report with your agent; negotiate repairs or credits
- ☐ The lender orders the appraisal (you pay at closing)
- ☐ Respond to all underwriter document requests within 24 hours
- ☐ Get homeowners insurance lined up
- ☐ Lock your interest rate (timing varies — talk to your lender)
- ☐ Don't Open new credit, change jobs, or make large unexplained deposits
Phase 5 — Closing day
- ☐ Receive Closing Disclosure three days before close (federally required)
- ☐ Wire cash-to-close to the escrow company (or bring a cashier's check)
- ☐ Do the final walkthrough with your agent the day of or day before closing
- ☐ Bring photo ID to the signing
- ☐ Sign the loan documents at the title/escrow company (~45 minutes)
- ☐ Receive keys when funding records
Keep this checklist somewhere easy to reference. Most Nevada first-time buyer closings that go smoothly are the ones where the buyer worked through these milestones in order.
Frequently asked questions
Who counts as a first-time homebuyer in Nevada?
You count as a first-time buyer if you have not owned a principal residence in the prior 3 years, which is the HUD definition Nevada programs use. A spouse's ownership counts, so both of you need to clear the 3-year window. Single parents and displaced homemakers get exceptions. Many past owners requalify after renting for a few years.
How little can I put down as a first-time buyer in Nevada?
As little as 3% down on a Conventional 97, Fannie HomeReady, or Freddie Home Possible loan with a 620 credit minimum, or 3.5% down on FHA with a 580 score. FHA accepts a 500-579 score with 10% down. Down payment assistance can then cover most of that down payment, so some buyers bring very little of their own cash.
What down payment assistance can a first-time buyer use here?
Home Is Possible is the statewide option: up to 5% of the loan, 640 minimum FICO, with borrower income up to $165,000. In Nevada's rural and USDA-eligible areas (Las Vegas city limits excluded), Home At Last offers 0%-interest, no-payment assistance (620 FICO) with household income up to $165,000. The federal WISH grant matches eligible buyers' savings 4:1 up to $32,837. These do not stack with each other.
How long does the whole Nevada buying process take?
Typically 60–90 days from "I'm ready" to keys, including the time to find a home. Once under contract, expect 30–45 days to closing. Pre-approval before shopping is what makes that timeline possible.
Can I skip pre-approval and just write offers?
Technically yes, but you'd be at a major disadvantage. Most Nevada sellers — especially in Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, and competitive metros — won't seriously consider an offer without a pre-approval letter attached. Why pre-approval beats pre-qualification.
What if I miss a step?
Most missed steps are recoverable. The exceptions: changing jobs mid-process, opening new credit during underwriting, and missing the cash-to-close wire deadline. Everything else is fixable with a conversation.
Do I really need a real estate agent?
On the buyer side, the seller typically pays the buyer's agent commission, so a buyer's agent costs you nothing out of pocket but represents your interests in negotiation, inspection, contract terms, and closing coordination. Skipping an agent is rarely worth it for first-time buyers.
What if my situation doesn't fit a standard checklist?
That's normal — most buyers have at least one wrinkle (self-employment, recent move, student loans, gift funds, etc.). The 20-minute call we offer is designed to identify your specific wrinkles before they become problems.
Want a custom checklist for your specific situation?
Twenty minutes on the phone. No pressure, no commitment, no hard sell. Just a realistic conversation about what may fit and what steps come next.