Updated · Mike Certo, NMLS #260555
Washington Down Payment Assistance Programs Guide
Washington's down payment help runs through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, one flagship structure, five specialty add-ons, and real city money in the Puget Sound metros. Here's the practical WA DPA map.
WSHFC program family
- Home Advantage + Home Advantage DPA: 30-year first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional) with a DPA second of 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan amount, 0% interest, no monthly payment, due on sale, refinance, transfer, or payoff. Income up to $215,000 statewide; no first-time-buyer requirement.
- Covenant Homeownership Program: Up to 20% of the purchase price, max $150,000, plus closing costs, for first-time buyers who identify as Black, Hispanic, Native American/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Korean, or Asian Indian, where the buyer or a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent lived in Washington before April 1968. Income at or below 120% of area median; 2025 legislation added forgiveness for lower-income participants. Lender pre-authorization required before contract as of spring 2026. The program remains active, but its legal and funding status is volatile, including a federal fair-housing review opened in 2026, so confirm current program status and your eligibility with WSHFC/HereToHome before relying on it.
- House Key Opportunity + Opportunity DPA: Income-qualified first mortgage for first-time buyers (waived in targeted areas and for honorably discharged Veterans) with a DPA second up to $15,000 at 1% simple interest, deferred.
- Veterans DPA: Up to $10,000, 3% simple, deferred 30 years, stacks on a $0-down VA first mortgage to cover closing costs.
- HomeChoice: Up to $15,000 for buyers with a disability or a disabled household member, deferred 30 years.
- Needs-Based DPA: Up to $10,000 at 1% simple for income-qualified Home Advantage borrowers.
City and county programs
- Seattle Office of Housing / HomeSight: City-run down payment assistance inside Seattle city limits, not WSHFC-administered; confirm current funding and amount directly with the program
- Tacoma: City-run down payment assistance for income-eligible buyers, confirm current availability and amount with the City of Tacoma
- Bellingham: Up to $40,000
- ARCH (East King County): Up to $30,000
Local funds open and close with funding cycles, amounts current as of July 2026; we confirm status at pre-approval. Never owned before? Start with our Washington first-time home buyer guide to see how these seconds pair with an FHA, conventional, or VA first mortgage.
National DPA programs
- Chenoa Fund: FHA-paired DPA with repayable and forgivable structures.
- Arrive Home: national DPA including an ITIN borrower path.
- Essex Mortgage / NHF: multi-tier DPA for FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional buyers.
Eligibility basics
- Income: $215,000 statewide for Home Advantage; ~$164,400 King/Snohomish ($126,800 elsewhere) for Veterans/HomeChoice/Needs-Based; county-based for House Key; 120% AMI for Covenant
- Credit: No blanket WSHFC floor since 2023, loan-type minimums apply
- Education: Commission-approved course required (free virtual seminar or low-cost online)
- Occupancy: Primary residence in Washington
FAQ
What down payment assistance is available in Washington State?
Washington's main help runs through the state Housing Finance Commission: the Home Advantage DPA lends 3%, 4%, or 5% of your first-mortgage amount at 0% interest with payments deferred up to 30 years, and specialty programs add up to $15,000 (House Key Opportunity, HomeChoice), $10,000 (Veterans, Needs-Based), or up to $150,000 (the Covenant Homeownership Program). We pair the second mortgage with your first in a single closing.
What is the income limit for Washington down payment assistance?
The Home Advantage limit is $215,000 statewide as of July 2026, one of the most generous in the country, and higher than the older $180,000 figure many sites still quote. Specialty options run lower: about $164,400 in King and Snohomish counties ($126,800 elsewhere) for Veterans, HomeChoice, and Needs-Based, with county-specific limits for House Key Opportunity.
What is the Covenant Homeownership Program?
Down payment and closing-cost assistance up to 20% of the purchase price, maximum $150,000, for first-time buyers from communities harmed by covenant-era housing discrimination in Washington. You (or a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent) must have lived in Washington before April 1968, with household income at or below 120% of area median income; 2025 legislation added forgiveness for lower-income participants. The program remains active, but its legal and funding status is volatile, including a federal fair-housing review opened in 2026, so confirm current program status and your eligibility with WSHFC/HereToHome before relying on it.
How does the 2026 Covenant pre-authorization process work?
As of spring 2026, your lender must submit your eligibility documentation and receive written authorization from the Commission BEFORE you go under contract, no exceptions. We run that pre-authorization step first, you shop only after written authorization is in hand, and the assistance remains subject to current funding and final program approval. Funding is limited; current status changes through the year.
Do you have to pay back down payment assistance in Washington?
Washington's DPA programs are deferred second mortgages, not grants, no monthly payment, with repayment when you sell, refinance, or pay off your first mortgage, up to 30 years out. The core Home Advantage DPA is 0% interest, so you repay only what you borrowed; specialty options carry 1-4% simple interest.
Is there down payment assistance for Veterans in Washington?
Yes, the Veterans DPA lends up to $10,000, deferred up to 30 years, and it can stack on top of a $0-down VA loan to cover closing costs. Honorably discharged Veterans are also exempt from the first-time buyer requirement on House Key Opportunity.
Does Seattle have its own down payment assistance program?
Yes. Bellingham (up to $40,000) and ARCH in East King County (up to $30,000) are WSHFC-administered; Seattle (through its Office of Housing / HomeSight) and Tacoma run their own city programs, so confirm current funding and amounts with the city or a WSHFC-trained lender. Local funds open and close with funding cycles, we check current availability at pre-approval.
What credit score do you need for WSHFC programs?
The Commission removed its blanket 620 minimum in mid-2023, today the underwriting minimum of your loan type (FHA, VA, USDA, conventional) applies instead. Many sites still quote the old 620 floor; we check your actual fit against current guidelines.
Is a homebuyer class required?
Yes, every WSHFC program requires a Commission-approved homebuyer education course: a free five-hour virtual seminar or a low-cost online self-study option. Your certificate is good for two years; complete it early so it never delays closing.