
Nurse Home Loans: 3% Down, No PMIYou Care for Everyone Else. Let's Get You Home.
Our nurse home loan is built for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and clinical nurse specialists in Oregon and California: as little as 3% down up to $2M, 89.99% financing up to $3M, no mortgage insurance, and an offer letter is OK when your start date is up to 180 days after closing.
3%
Min. Down Payment
97% financing to $2M
$3M
Max Loan Amount
89.99% financing
700
Min. Credit Score
50%
Max DTI
What is a nurse home loan?
A nurse home loan is a mortgage for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and clinical nurse specialists that finances up to 97% of the price with no mortgage insurance. At Lumen Mortgage it covers loans up to $3,000,000 in Oregon and California, accepts a signed offer letter when your start date is up to 180 days after closing, and works for primary homes of 1–4 units and eligible one-unit second homes.
Best for: RNs, NPs, CRNAs, and CNSs who want to buy with a small down payment and no mortgage insurance.
3%
Min. Down Payment
None
Mortgage Insurance
700
Min. Credit Score
50%
Max DTI
$100K–$3M
Loan Amounts
Overview
A Home Loan That Understands Nursing Careers
Nursing careers don't always look like a standard mortgage file. You might be starting a new hospital role next quarter, picking up travel contracts, or carrying student loans from an advanced degree. Our nurse home loan is written for those realities, with up to 97% financing, no mortgage insurance, and documentation rules that fit how nurses actually get hired and paid.
The program covers registered nurses (RN), nurse practitioners (NP), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), and clinical nurse specialists (CNS). At least one borrower needs an eligible degree and must qualify using income from that profession. A spouse or co-borrower can work in any field. LPNs/LVNs, CNAs, and unlicensed nursing students aren't eligible.
Oregon and California housing is expensive, and a smaller down payment can mean buying years sooner. With 97% financing up to $2,000,000 and 89.99% up to $3,000,000, nurses near OHSU, Providence, Legacy, Kaiser Permanente, UCSF, Stanford, Sutter Health, and other major health systems can buy without waiting to save 20%. If you're a CRNA with a DNP or DNAP, you may also qualify for our 0%-down physician loans, and we'll compare both for you.
Who This Is For
Nurse Home Loans for Oregon and California
Whether you're an ICU nurse in Portland, a nurse practitioner in Sacramento, or a CRNA joining a Bay Area health system, we'll map your offer letter, start date, and closing date so the timing works. Run your numbers in our nurse home loan calculator, read our first-time home buyer guide for nurses, then call 503-966-9255 or email info@lumenmortgage.com.
Key Features
What Makes This Program Work
As Little as 3% Down
Finance up to 97% of the purchase price on loans up to $2,000,000, or up to 89.99% on loans up to $3,000,000. Primary homes can be 1–4 units, and eligible one-unit second homes qualify too.
No Mortgage Insurance
There's no monthly mortgage insurance, even at 3% down. Closing costs and prepaid items still apply.
Offer Letter OK
Starting a new position? You can qualify on a signed offer letter or contract with a start date up to 180 days after closing. It must show your job title, start date, and pay rate, cover at least 12 months, and have only licensing or standard administrative contingencies.
Student Loan Treatment
We use the payment on your credit report. If no payment reports, we use 0.5% of the balance, a fully amortized payment, or your documented repayment amount.
Fixed or Adjustable
Choose a 15- or 30-year fixed, or a 5/6, 7/6, or 10/6 SOFR ARM. On 30-year fixed purchases, 2-1 and 1-0 temporary buydowns are available.
Travel & Contract Nurses Welcome
Contract, 1099, and travel nurses may qualify with guaranteed pay or a documented contract history. If your contract hasn't started yet, it needs to begin within 60 days, plus reserves.
Qualifying
Nurse Home Loan Financing at a Glance
| Loan amount | Max financing | Min. down payment | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 – $2,000,000 | 97% | 3% | Offer-letter months only |
| $2,000,001 – $3,000,000 | 89.99% | 10.01% | 2 months PITI + offer-letter months |
Primary residences (1–4 units) and eligible one-unit second homes. 700 minimum credit score and 50% maximum DTI. When you qualify on an offer letter, you also need reserves for each month between closing and your start date.
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Requirements
General Qualifications
Ready to See If You Qualify?
Every borrower's situation is unique. Give us 15 minutes and we'll review your financial picture, identify every program you qualify for, and walk you through your options — at no cost and with no obligation.
Licensed in Oregon & California · NMLS #1498678
Program terms are subject to change and to credit, income, asset, and property approval. Not a commitment to lend. Lumen Mortgage, NMLS #1498678.
Related Programs
Physician Loans
NPs and CRNAs with a DNP or DNAP may qualify for 0%-down physician financing. Compare both programs.
First-Time Buyer Programs
Buying your first home? See every low-down-payment option alongside the nurse program.
Conventional Loans
Compare against conventional financing with as little as 3% down.
1099 Income Loans
Travel or contract nurse with irregular income? Compare 1099-based qualifying.
Interactive Tool
Nurse home loan calculator: 3% down, no PMI
See your monthly payment with 97% financing up to $2M or 89.99% up to $3M, compare it with a conventional loan with PMI, try a 2-1 or 1-0 buydown, and estimate reserves if you're qualifying with an offer letter.
Nurse Home Loan Calculator
3% Down to $2M · 89.99% to $3M · No PMI · vs. Conventional
Default rate for illustration, as of July 2026. Edit to match your quote.
Loan Amount
$533,500
LTV
97.0%
Term
30-yr fixed
Nurse Home Loan
RN, NP, CRNA, CNS · 1-unit primary residence modeled · 700+ credit
Monthly P&I
$3,729.94
Conventional with PMI
Monthly P&I
$3,729.94
Your nurse loan savings
$467/month
vs. a conventional loan with PMI at 3.0% down
Per year
$5,602
PMI avoided
$466.81/mo
Same rate assumed in both columns. The difference shown is mortgage insurance.
Estimates for illustration only, based on nurse home loan guidelines as of 2026: eligible RNs, NPs, CRNAs and clinical nurse specialists; 1-unit primary residence; purchase or rate/term refinance; Oregon & California. 97% financing to $2M and 89.99% to $3M with a 700 score for every borrower; $100,000 minimum loan; 50% maximum DTI. Reserves: 2 months PITI above $2M, plus one month for each month between closing and an offer-letter start date (up to 180 days). 2-1 and 1-0 temporary buydowns are available on 30-year fixed purchases. Second homes, 2–4 units and 5/6, 7/6 and 10/6 SOFR ARMs are available but not modeled here. Down payment excludes closing costs and prepaids. No mortgage insurance. PMI figures in the conventional column are market estimates, not quotes. Subject to credit approval and program guidelines. NMLS #1498678.
FAQ
Common Questions
From the Blog
Further Reading
First-Time BuyersFirst-Time Home Buyer Guide for Nurses: 3% Down and No PMI on Loans up to $2M
Buying your first home as a nurse? Here's how a nurse home loan works, how much you need down, how offer letters, travel contracts and student loans are handled, and a step-by-step plan from pre-approval to closing.
Physician LoansFrom Renters to Owners: How a Pharmacist Bought a $995K First Home on Bull Mountain with 100% Financing
After years of renting, a pharmacist and her RN husband needed more room for a growing family. Our physician loan financed 100% of their $995,000 Bull Mountain home with no mortgage insurance, and a 3% seller credit covered nearly all of their cash to close.
OregonOregon First-Time Homebuyer Programs You May Not Know About
Oregon has several programs specifically designed to help first-time buyers get into a home with less money down and better rates. Here's what's available and how to qualify.
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