Virginia First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Assistance

Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority) currently lists 6 programs for Virginia buyers, with down payment help up to 5% of the price (about $23,120 on a median-priced home) through Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage. Figures below were read from the agency's own pages on September 11, 2026.

Virginia first-time buyer programs open now

Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority) is the state's housing finance agency (homebuyer programs page). It runs 5 down payment or closing-cost assistance programs alongside 1 below-market first mortgage. Not specified on a single page; Down Payment Assistance Grant and Closing Cost Assistance Grant are open to 'a qualified first-time homebuyer or repeat buyer purchasing in Areas of Economic Opportunity' (per virginiahousing.com)

Program	Type	Amount	First-time only	Min. credit	Income limit
Down Payment Assistance Grant source	Grant (no repayment)	See program page	No	n/a	Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page
Closing Cost Assistance Grant source	Grant (no repayment)	May be worth up to 2% of the home's purchase price	No	n/a	Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page
Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage source	Second mortgage	Maximum 5% of the home's purchase price (can finance 1.5% more than the purchase price if qualified)	No	n/a	Virginia Housing's income limits apply;
Military and Veteran Programs - Granting Freedom Program source	Program	See program page	Check	n/a	See program page
VA-Guaranteed Loan (via Virginia Housing) source	First mortgage	See program page	No	n/a	See program page
Community Land Trust (CLT) financing source	Program	See program page	Check	n/a	See program page

Down Payment Assistance Grant. Terms: True grant, never repaid; can be paired with other non-Virginia Housing assistance Purchase price limit: Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page Must pair with: An eligible Virginia Housing bond FHA/Conventional loan Program page
Closing Cost Assistance Grant. Terms: True grant, never repaid; can be paired with other non-Virginia Housing grants Purchase price limit: Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page Must pair with: A Virginia Housing bond Rural Housing Service (RHS/USDA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) loan Program page
Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage. Terms: 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage with no prepayment penalty, paired with a Virginia Housing first mortgage; can also finance part of closing costs if credit score is 680+ Purchase price limit: Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page Must pair with: A non-bond or bond FHA/Conventional or non-bond Conventional No MI loan from Virginia Housing Program page
Military and Veteran Programs - Granting Freedom Program. Terms: Provides home modifications for disabled veterans/service members with a service-connected, line-of-duty injury Program page
VA-Guaranteed Loan (via Virginia Housing). Terms: Federal VA-guaranteed loan offered through Virginia Housing; borrowers eligible for this loan are also eligible for the Closing Cost Assistance Grant; some qualifying veterans may receive 100% financing Program page
Community Land Trust (CLT) financing. Terms: Buyer purchases only the house (not the land), which is leased long-term (e.g., 99 years) from a nonprofit CLT; resale price is restricted by formula to preserve affordability Where: Served through 5 approved regional CLT partners: Maggie Walker CLT (Richmond area), Virginia Statewide CLT (statewide, including Washington-Arlington-Alexandria), Piedmont CLT (Charlottesville area), Lighthouse Beloved CLT (Lynchburg area), New River Home Trust CLT (Montgomery County/Blacksburg) Program page

City and county programs in Virginia

Local governments run their own down payment funds on top of the state programs. These can be combined with a state loan in most cases; each has its own income limit and area.

Fairfax County: Fairfax County Down Payment Loan Program. Deferred second loan. Income limit: 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) by household size: 1 person $91,750; 2 $104,900; 3 $118,000; 4 $131,100; 5 $141,600;. First-time buyers only. Official page

How little you can put down

You do not need 20% down. Conventional loans go as low as 3% (through programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible), FHA loans start at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can require nothing down. On Virginia's median-priced home (about $462,400), 3% down is roughly $13,872. Putting 20% down lets you skip private mortgage insurance, but most first-time buyers put down far less.

Who counts as a first-time buyer

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years, so many repeat buyers qualify again. Virginia programs often add income and purchase-price limits, which is another reason to confirm the details with Virginia Housing.

Stack a buyer rebate on top in Virginia

Down-payment assistance and a buyer commission rebate are two different things, and in Virginia you can use both. Assistance from Virginia Housing helps with your down payment and closing costs; a buyer rebate returns about 2% of the price to you at closing (roughly $9,248 on a median-priced home), which can cover much of your closing bill.

See Virginia buyer rebates → See Virginia closing costs →

You may qualify for more help in your county

City and county governments in Virginia run their own down payment programs on top of the state ones, and most can be combined with a state loan. Each county page lists the local programs, income limits and local closing costs alongside the state programs:

Fairfax County: local help up to $50,000

Frequently asked questions

What first-time home buyer programs are available in Virginia?

Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority) lists 6 programs: Down Payment Assistance Grant, Closing Cost Assistance Grant, Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage, Military and Veteran Programs - Granting Freedom Program, VA-Guaranteed Loan (via Virginia Housing), Community Land Trust (CLT) financing. Down payment help runs up to 5% of the price (about $23,120 on a median-priced home). Fairfax County also run local down payment programs.

How much down payment assistance can you get in Virginia?

Up to 5% of the price (about $23,120 on a median-priced home) through Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage (second mortgage). Other Virginia programs offer different amounts; see the table on this page for each one.

Do you have to be a first-time buyer to qualify in Virginia?

Not for every program. 4 of 6 Virginia programs are open to repeat buyers. Not specified on a single page; Down Payment Assistance Grant and Closing Cost Assistance Grant are open to 'a qualified first-time homebuyer or repeat buyer purchasing in Areas of Economic Opportunity' (per virginiahousing.com)

How much down payment do you need in Virginia?

As little as 3% on a conventional loan, 3.5% on an FHA loan, and 0% on VA or USDA loans. On Virginia's median-priced home (about $462,400), 3% is roughly $13,872. You do not need 20% down, though 20% lets you avoid mortgage insurance.

Who counts as a first-time home buyer?

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years. Some Virginia programs also have income and purchase-price limits, so check with Virginia Housing.

Can I combine assistance with a buyer rebate in Virginia?

Yes. A buyer commission rebate is separate from down-payment assistance and is legal in Virginia. Assistance helps with your down payment and closing costs up front; a rebate returns about 2% of the price at closing, which you can put toward closing costs. You can use both.

Official sources

Virginia program details last verified against Virginia Housing on September 11, 2026.

Read the full guide to the cash you need to buy →

This is general information, not financial advice. Program details, limits, and loan terms change; confirm the current rules with Virginia Housing and your lender before you rely on them.

See first-time buyer programs in all states