Down payment assistance, grants, forgivable loans, and tax credits available to Washington buyers. Each program below is verified, with eligibility rules, benefit amounts, and a direct link to the official agency.
Last reviewed September 2026·8 programs·6 federal programs
Administered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission / A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH)
Up to $30,000
Payment-deferred second loan at 4% simple interest for homes in 15 East King County cities, paired with a Commission first mortgage; due on sale, refinance, transfer or at 30 years.
Income limit
Income limits $81,700 - $154,000 by household size
Max home price$660,000
First-time buyer requiredYes
Special requirements: Property in one of 15 participating East King County cities; price limits $660,000 new construction / $646,000 existing; Commission homebuyer education required
View official program page
Through a Commission-trained loan officer (lender list on heretohome.org)Verified September 2026
Covenant Homeownership Program
Administered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Up to 20% of home cost (max $150,000)
Deferred 0%-interest second loan of up to 20% of the home cost, max $150,000, plus closing costs, paired with a Home Advantage or House Key first mortgage. HB 1696 (2025) added loan forgiveness for some participants (borrowers notified within a year of closing). Still funded via a $100 document recording fee (~$75-100M/yr) but demand exceeds monthly funding, so a mandatory pre-reservation process has applied since April 20, 2026. Borrower or an ancestor must have lived in Washington before April 1968 and be in a covered group.
Income limit
Household income up to 120% of area median income (raised by HB 1696, effective July 27, 2025); county maximums range $114,950 - $197,300
First-time buyer requiredYes
Special requirements: Must meet residency/lineage eligibility criteria tied to pre-1968 Washington housing discrimination.
Home Advantage Needs-Based Down Payment Assistance
Administered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Up to $10,000
Payment-deferred second loan at 1% simple interest, paired with a Home Advantage first mortgage; due on sale, refinance, transfer or at 30 years.
Income limit
$164,400 in King/Snohomish counties; $126,800 in all other counties (regardless of household size)
First-time buyer requiredNo
Special requirements: Needs-based; must use a Home Advantage first mortgage; Commission-sponsored homebuyer education class required
View official program page
Through a Commission-trained loan officer (lender list on heretohome.org)Verified September 2026
HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance
Administered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Up to $15,000
Payment-deferred second loan for borrowers with a disability, or with a disabled family member living with them, paired with a Home Advantage or House Key first mortgage.
Income limit
$164,400 in King/Snohomish counties; $126,800 in all other counties
First-time buyer requiredNo
Special requirements: Disability must be verified and meet the ADA or RCW 71A.10.020 definition; Commission homebuyer education required
View official program page
Through a Commission-trained loan officer (lender list on heretohome.org)Verified September 2026
Seattle Office of Housing Down Payment Assistance
Administered by City of Seattle Office of Housing (delivered through partner organizations)
Up to $76,000 per household
Housing Levy-funded down payment assistance for purchases within Seattle city limits, delivered through HomeSight, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County, Homestead CLT, Parkview Services and WSHFC; loan terms vary by partner (HomeSight describes a low-interest loan; Parkview can layer up to $110,000).
Income limit
Household income below 80% of area median income by household size
First-time buyer requiredYes
Special requirements: First-time buyer or no home ownership in past 3 years (displaced-homemaker exception); homebuyer education plus one-on-one counseling; primary residence in Seattle
View official program page
Contact a partner: HomeSight (206) 723-4355, Habitat (206) 453-2950, Homestead CLT (206) 323-1227, Parkview Services (206) 542-6644, WSHFC (206) 464-7139Verified September 2026
Veterans Down Payment Assistance
Administered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Up to $10,000
Up to $10,000 deferred second loan at 3% interest for veterans and their families; must be a first-time buyer or buy in a target area and pair with a Commission first mortgage.
Income limit
Income limits $164,400 (King/Snohomish counties) or $126,800 (all other counties); first-time buyer or targeted-area purchase required
First-time buyer requiredYes
EligibilityVeterans only
Special requirements: Must be veteran or active military.
3% minimum down payment with no minimum borrower contribution; income at or below 80% AMI (2026 AMIs effective June 13, 2026); reduced, cancellable mortgage insurance; $2,500 credit for very low-income first-time buyers on loans purchased through February 28, 2027.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?
Most Washington programs require first-time buyer status, but the definition is broader than most people think — the IRS considers you a first-time buyer if you haven't owned a primary residence in the last three years. Each program above lists its specific rules.
What credit score do I need?
Minimum credit scores vary by program. Most Washington programs require 620 to 660, though some lower-tier products accept lower scores with manual underwriting. Check each program's eligibility section above.
How do I actually apply?
Most state programs aren't applied to directly — you go through a participating lender, who handles the program application as part of your mortgage. Each program above links to the official agency page with the current list of approved lenders.
Can I combine multiple programs?
Often yes — many states allow you to stack a state down-payment grant with a federal FHA or VA loan. Some programs explicitly forbid combining; check each program's "special requirements" above.
Do these programs cost anything?
The programs themselves are free to apply for. Some require completing a homebuyer education course (typically $50–$100, sometimes free). Forgivable second mortgages technically don't cost you unless you sell or refinance early — read the terms carefully.
