First-time buyer programs in Northern VirginiaGrants and down payment help, with 2026 limits
Answer six questions. See which state and county programs fit you, and what each gives on your price.
Your first home starts here· Centreville, Fairfax County
Limits: each program’s own page, October 25, 2026. Pictures: artist’s renderings of real places.
The finder
Which programs fit you?
Income before taxes, for everyone who will live in the home. Used only to match the limits: nothing is saved or sent.
Pick where you are buying, then type your household income and price. The programs sort themselves, with the help each gives on your price.
Updated October 25, 2026Limits: Virginia Housing August 1, 2026; counties 2026A 30-second finder, plus a 5-minute read
Quick answer
Yes. In Northern Virginia a first-time buyer can get help from the state and from the county. Virginia Housing gives a grant of 2% to 2.5% of the price that is never repaid, for homes up to $800,000, if your household earns up to $148,000 (1 or 2 people) or $174,000 (3 or more).1,2 The counties add more: Fairfax up to $50,000, Loudoun up to $70,000, Arlington up to $112,500 and Prince William up to 23% of the price, each with its own income limit.4,6,7,8 “First-time” means you have not owned a home in the last 3 years. Use the finder below to see which ones fit you.
First-time buyer help, in six numbers
Limits for the Washington area, 2026
Limits change every year. Each program and your lender confirm them with your papers.
Every program
Northern Virginia’s first-time buyer programs, side by side.
The state’s programs work everywhere; the county ones only for homes in that county or city.
| Program | The help | Income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Down Payment Assistance Grant1,2Virginia Housing, all of Virginia | 2% to 2.5% of the price, never repaid | $148,000 to $174,000 |
| Plus Second Mortgage3Virginia Housing, all of Virginia | Up to 5% of the price, repaid over 30 years | up to $245,000 |
| Down Payment Loan4Fairfax County | Up to $50,000, shared equity | $91,750 to $173,050 |
| First-Time Homebuyers (ADU homes)5Fairfax County | Homes from $95,000 to the low $200,000s, by lottery | $25,000 to $153,450 |
| DPCC and DPCC Plus6Loudoun County | 10% of the price or $70,000, forgiven over 15 years | $49,850 to $166,100 |
| SPARC6Loudoun County | Lower-rate loan, homes up to $750,000 | $186,000 to $217,000 |
| MIPAP7Arlington | 25% of the price or $112,500, homes up to $500,000 | $93,040 to $154,160 |
| First Time Homebuyers Program8Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park | Up to 23% of the price (33% at lower incomes) | $93,050 to $175,450 |
| FHAP9City of Alexandria | Up to $50,000, set-aside homes only | ask the city |
Most buyers stack two layers: a Virginia Housing first mortgage with its grant or Plus Second, and, where you qualify, the county’s help on top. Your lender has to be approved by Virginia Housing, and the county programs are first come, first served, so the order you do things in matters.1,4
Almost every program asks for a free Virginia Housing homebuyer class first, and most want at least 1% of the price from you, which can be a gift. Prince William asks for three short classes before you sign a contract.2,7,8
Read the fine print
Grant, forgivable or shared equity: what you owe later.
Three programs can give the same dollars today and cost very different amounts when you sell.
The help comes in three kinds, and they are not the same deal. A grant, like Virginia Housing’s, is never paid back. A forgivable loan, like Loudoun’s, disappears if you stay long enough (15 years there) and is owed if you sell sooner.2,6
A shared-equity or shared-appreciation loan, like Fairfax’s, Arlington’s and Prince William’s, has no monthly payment, but when you sell or pay off the house the county gets its money back plus a share of what the home gained. On a home that rises in value, that share can be large, so read the payback terms before you choose.4,7,8
Timing is a decision, not a coincidence. These programs open, fill up and change their limits every year, so the best moment to start is a few months before you want to move: take the class, meet the lender, then shop.
The order
Five steps, in the order that works.
Programs run out of money and lenders need time, so the order matters more than the speed.
1. Take the free class. Virginia Housing’s homebuyer class is online and costs nothing; most programs ask for the certificate.
2. Pick a Virginia Housing lender. The grant, the Plus Second and the county loans all go through one. Ask them to check every program on this page.
3. Get pre-approved with the program in it. Your price range changes when the help is part of the plan.
4. Shop inside the limits. Price limits ($500,000 in Arlington, $750,000 for SPARC, $800,000 for Virginia Housing) decide which homes work.
5. Apply before the money runs out. County programs are first come, first served; some open in rounds.
Questions
What first-time buyers ask.
Does Virginia have a first-time home buyer program?
Yes. Virginia Housing, the state housing agency, offers a first-time buyer mortgage, a down payment grant of 2% to 2.5% of the price that is never repaid, and a Plus Second Mortgage of up to 5%. In Northern Virginia, Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William and Alexandria add their own help.
What are the income limits for first-time home buyers in Northern Virginia?
For Virginia Housing's grant: $148,000 for 1 or 2 people and $174,000 for 3 or more (effective August 1, 2026). For its first-time mortgage: $186,000 and $217,000. County programs are lower: Fairfax's down payment loan runs from $91,750 for 1 person to $173,050 for 8.
Who counts as a first-time home buyer?
Someone who has not owned a home they lived in during the last 3 years. If you sold a home 4 years ago, you count as first-time again.
Can I buy a house in Virginia with no money down?
With a VA loan, eligible veterans and service members can put 0% down. Others can come close: Virginia Housing's grant or Plus Second covers most of an FHA or conventional down payment, and most programs ask you to put in at least 1%, which can be a gift.
What is the price limit for Virginia Housing loans in Northern Virginia?
$800,000 for the first-time buyer mortgage and the grant. Arlington's MIPAP stops at $500,000 and Loudoun's SPARC at $750,000.
Do I have to pay the down payment help back?
It depends on the program. Virginia Housing's grant: never. Loudoun's help: forgiven over 15 years. Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William: paid back when you sell or refinance, with a share of the home's gain.
What credit score do I need?
Each program sets its own. Fairfax's ADU program asks for 620; Virginia Housing's Plus Second asks for 680 to cover part of your closing costs; FHA loans start at 580 for 3.5% down. A lender checks your exact numbers.
Is there a first-time home buyer savings account in Virginia?
Yes. Money you put into a Virginia first-time home buyer savings account comes off your Virginia taxable income, up to $50,000 of deposits, and is used for a down payment or closing costs.
Does this finder save what I type?
No. It runs in your browser, and nothing is stored or sent unless you choose to text or email Ahmed.
Your next step
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