National Housing Finance Corporation SOC Ltd (NHFC)

The National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) is a state-owned development finance institution that funds affordable housing in South Africa. The NHFC works with developers, social housing institutions and financial institutions to widen access to housing finance, and forms part of the Department of Human Settlements’ housing delivery strategy. The NHFC is headquartered in Sandton.

Registered name

National Housing Finance Corporation SOC Ltd (NHFC)

Type

State-owned development finance institution (human settlements)

Fields funded

Built environment, finance, property, housing and human settlements

Website

nhfc.co.za

Email

bursary@nhfc.co.za

First Home Finance

The NHFC runs First Home Finance, the subsidy that helps qualifying households buy or build their first home. Applications go through an online portal in set windows; the current window opened on 3 August and closes on 5 October at 17:00, and incomplete applications are rejected. Home builders registered with the NHBRC must complete 80% of approved houses before submitting new applications.

Social housing finance

Social housing is subsidised rental accommodation for low- to middle-income households. The NHFC provides about 30% of project funding as secured debt to accredited social housing institutions and other delivery agents, while the Social Housing Regulatory Authority provides the balance through consolidated capital grants.

The NHFC’s corporate social investment builds homes and supplies household goods to beneficiaries, such as residents of New Rest in Gugulethu, Cape Town.

The NHFC bursary fund

The NHFC set up its tertiary bursary fund to build capacity, expertise and work opportunities in the housing finance sector. The NHFC says it extends its work beyond housing to developing young people facing economic hardship. The fund supports second-year, senior undergraduate and postgraduate students in fields including the built environment, construction economics, development studies, energy efficiency, finance, housing, human settlements, property markets, real estate and risk management; first-year students are not eligible.

The bursary covers at least tuition, prescribed books and study materials, with accommodation and other costs at the NHFC’s discretion. Applications for 2027 close on 30 September 2026, by email with “NHFC Bursary Application 2027” in the subject line, and late applications are not accepted.

How to research the NHFC

Read about First Home Finance and social housing so you can explain how your field connects to affordable housing. Download the application form from the bursary fund page and include the IDs or birth certificates of all household members, which the NHFC requires.

See our quantity surveying bursaries for built environment funders.