Virginia Housing (formerly VHDA), has spent the last 50 years making homeownership more affordable. Here are some of the programs that you can take advantage of as a first time home buyer:
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT (DPA)
This grant provides money to qualifying first time buyers and it does not have to be paid back. It can also be paired with the Mortgage Credit Certificate. You could receive 2% of the sales price on a Conventional loan, or 2.5% for an FHA loan.
PLUS SECOND MORTGAGE
The Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage pairs your first mortgage with a second mortgage that covers the down payment. For certain credit qualified borrowers it will cover all or a portion of the closing costs. This is a 30-year, fixed-rate loan with no prepayment penalty, and if you qualify, you’re also eligible for a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). This program gives you the option of having a 0% down loan.
CLOSING COST CREDIT GRANT (CCA)
This grant can be used with VA and USDA loans and will help cover your closing costs. This grant may be worth up to 2% of the home’s purchase price. Funds must be applied to closing costs, to include discount points, prepaid items and the upfront Rural Housing Service (RHS) guarantee fee or the Veterans Affairs (VA) funding fee. The grant does not require repayment.
MORTGAGE CREDIT CERTIFICATE
With a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), first-time homebuyers can receive a dollar-for-dollar credit towards the federal income tax liability. This may lower your yearly financial burden as long as you live in the home.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- There are income and sales price restrictions for each of these programs.
- Credit score and underwriting rules will still apply for FHA and Conventional loans. You need at least a 620 credit score for FHA or a 640 for Conventional
- Your debt to income ratio must be 50% or below
- You cannot have a co-signer that does not live in the property
- You have to use a Virginia Housing approved lender (I know of many that can help you)
In Northern VA, here are the requirements for eligibility:
WHERE DO YOU START?
If this sounds like something you are interested in, please reach out via phone or text (703.434.9027). I will connect you with a lender that can tell you what you are eligible for and put you on the path to home ownership.
