• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

Sierra Nevada Realtors: Purchasing a home may be easier than you think

When purchasing a home, the process and financial requirements can seem daunting. There are many resources specific to our local area that are in place to ensure buyers have success and confidence in their purchase.
Kyle Rush, senior loan officer at Guild Mortgage in Carson City, says the first, most critical step of preparing for home ownership is education, most often by meeting with a knowledgeable loan officer.

“Someone that can clearly outline the loan options and how things like grants or tax credits can make homeownership possible. I love helping clients create a map to financial health and in my opinion it starts with owning your home. I think the most important factor to a first-time buyer is gaining an understanding of the products and programs that are designed to help them,” Kyle says.

There are many of these products and programs available. Nevada Rural Housing Authority, also based in Carson City, makes it easier for Nevadans to purchase a home through their signature Home At Last Homeownership Programs. These programs include a lease-to-own option, pet adoption fee waivers, and, perhaps best-known, a down-payment assistance program.

Home At Last offers eligible borrowers down payment assistance worth up to 5 percent of the purchase price of the home, a debt that is completely forgiven after living in the home as a primary residence for three years. This assistance is likely to cover a significant portion of a borrower’s down payment and closing costs.

Loan rates and corresponding down payment assistance percentages are published on a daily basis for easy reference.

To qualify for Home At Last Homeownership Programs, buyers must purchase a home in a qualified rural area (which includes a vast majority of Northern Nevada), have a FICO score of at least 640, complete an online Homebuyer Education course, and earn less than $135,000 per year. The education requirement helps buyers to understand the process of qualifying for a loan and buying a home.

Purchasing a home is known to be one of the best ways to build wealth over time and is a great accomplishment. With these programs available, this accomplishment may be more attainable than you think.

A lender like Kyle Rush can offer a free consultation to see what you may be qualified to purchase and can guide you through the purchasing process, including sorting through and applying for the many grants and programs available to you. Sierra Nevada Realtors and Nevada Rural Housing Authority are here to be a resource for buyers and sellers alike.

To contact Kyle Rush at Guild Mortgage, send an e-mail to krush@guildmortgage.net or call (775) 885-6892.
For more information about Home At Last Homeownership Programs, visit www.HomeAtLastNV.org or call (775) 887-1797.

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Carson City Fire Department and multiple agencies will host Tuesday the 2nd annual wildfire education and preparedness workshop for the community Tuesday, April 30.

Carson City is a Bee City USA affiliate, the first in the state of Nevada. Bee Cities are a part of The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. "Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides.”

In recognition of Historic Preservation and Archeological Awareness Month, the City’s Historic Resources Commission has organized the 2024 Scavenger Hunt.

picture of Hall of Fame inductees.

Six local bowlers were inducted in the third class of the Carson Country Bowling Association Hall of Fame at their annual meeting on Saturday, April 27, at HomeGrown Bowl. Carson Country is the local association of the U.S. Bowling Congress.

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space will hold a "Sheep Talk" this Monday, April 29 from noon to 1 p.m. so residents can learn from Carson City staff about the popular fuel reduction program used annually with the use of "firefighting" sheep.

Two Carson City residents who hiked C-Hill recently returned Sunday morning with a message: The flag that graces the hillside is in need of repair.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of April 29 through May 5, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Camp GOTR (Girls on the Run) is coming to Carson City for the second year in a row! Camp GOTR will be a week-long, half-day summer camp from 8 AM- 12 PM at the Carson City Community Center the week of August 5th- August 9th.

Girls on the Run Sierras is a character-building program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade operating in the Reno-Tahoe area.

A number of new Junior Park Rangers received their badges as they were sworn in as part of the annual Junior Park Rangers Day in Carson City.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Bob Crowell Boardroom of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

For many students at Carson High, Monica Weaver serves as a counselor who is dedicated to helping students navigate the challenges that could alter one’s four years of high school. But in the spring, Weaver also stands poolside, coaching the Senators swim team.

Meet Ricky and Reba, a sweet bonded pair who are waiting for their forever home. Sometimes bad things happen to good cats. Nobody knows this better than Ricky and Reba. Approximately 3 years old, they were abandoned when their owner moved, leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets of Reno. It wasn’t easy.

The 120 pounds of litter collected during the inaugural Shoreline Sweep Volunteer Cleanup at Sand Harbor State Park will be used in an innovative art installation in the park's visitor center.

Over 80 dedicated volunteers joined forces to comb the park's picturesque shores on Monday, April 22, 2024.

Warmer weather is upon us – finally – which also means so is the ever popular and very educational ComputerCorps TechCamp Summer Series! Yes, summer is just a few months off and ComputerCorps TechCamp 2K24 is now accepting applicants.


On April 24, 2024, at approximately 4:48 a.m., the Nevada State Police responded to a crash at the location of IR580 southbound near mile marker CC01 in Carson City, Nevada. (Near the Snyder Ave. overpass).

Each year, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office hosts an open house event as a way to connect families, deputies, non-profits and more. This year the event takes place May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Douglas County officials have announced that construction will begin soon on the first phase of the Muller Parkway Project. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Minden and Gardnerville, offering an alternative route to the main U.S. Route 395 through town. The decision comes as the County moves to fill its requirement to construct 2.4 miles of two-lane road by 2025.

Carson High School is pleased to announce Katarina Klatt and Brynn Russell will carry their academic and athletic talents on to the next level with Division 1 Scholarships. A short signing ceremony was held at the Carson Aquatic Center Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is moving forward with its plan to transfer certain mail processing operations from Reno to Sacramento, a change that has drawn bipartisan opposition among Nevada elected officials over its potential impact on the region’s economy and fears that it would slow the processing of ma

A 32-year-old Silver Springs man was arrested Wednesday and booked for charges associated to a fentanyl drug overdose in December 2023, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

The Division of Child and Family Services, Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services, invites the community to participate in the 2nd annual “Walk Us Home” 5K for Foster Homes on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Carson City.

The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has identified two Carson City residents who died in a wrong way crash early Wednesday morning in Carson City.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City’s Pet of the Week introduces, Shrek. While he may not hail from a swamp, this lovable pup is as big-hearted as they come, searching for his forever family.

Bowers Mansion Programs on the Porch program begins in May with this year's theme is "Variety Edition." Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy this free series in front of the historic Bowers Mansion. Fridays from 7 to 8 p.m., May 17 through June 21.

LGBTQ+ and Allies, community event, Carson Valley events, Western Nevada, gay

Two free scholarship lunch tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who couldn’t otherwise afford to participate. Reach out to wnvlgbtq@gmail.com and request your free tickets now!

St. Paul's Lutheran Family Church in Carson City is having a huge rummage sale Saturday, April 27 at 8 am until 1:30 pm. This is a fundraiser by St. Paul's women's group, WELCA, in association with Thrivent. There will be a jewelry room and a boutique featuring decor de jour and collectibles.

Carson City area casino gaming revenue was up slightly in March, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Statewide, revenue was down 1.65 percent compared to March 2023.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce Empire Elementary School’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Teacher Adrienne Wiggins has been selected as a Nevada finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honors for teachers of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science.

Nevada's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in March 2024, which decreased by 0.1 percent from February 2024, according to the state's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s March 2024 economic report.

Carson High Debate continues its groundbreaking season. Competing at state for the first time since Covid the team advanced to final events in 4 separate events.