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Down Payment Assistance Programs
Free Money for Your Down Payment in All 7 States We Serve
We identify every DPA grant and forgivable loan you qualify for — at no cost, as part of your pre-approval.
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INTRODUCTION
What is down payment assistance and how does it work?
Down payment assistance (DPA) is financial help — in the form of a grant, forgivable loan, or deferred second mortgage — that covers part or all of a homebuyer’s down payment and sometimes closing costs. Most DPA programs are funded by state housing finance agencies. They are layered on top of a first mortgage (FHA, conventional, or VA) and are available to income-qualifying buyers, typically first-time homebuyers within income limits set by the program.
The down payment is the single biggest barrier to homeownership in the United States. The National Association of Realtors reports that 87% of first-time buyers say it is their primary obstacle. Most of them do not know that billions of dollars in grant funding exist specifically to solve it.
The National Council of State Housing Agencies reported over $28 billion in down payment assistance distributed nationally in 2022. Grants. Forgivable loans. Deferred second mortgages that cost you nothing until you sell. These programs are real, funded, and available to qualifying buyers in all 7 states Access Financial serves.
The biggest myth in homeownership is that you need 20% down. The second biggest myth is that a lower credit score disqualifies you. The FHA loan was specifically created to prove both wrong.
The Federal Housing Administration has insured home loans since 1934. In 2023 alone, FHA insured over 765,000 purchase loans. Most went to first-time buyers who could not qualify for conventional financing. The program exists precisely for you.
THE COMPLETE 2026 DIRECTORY
Virginia
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| VHDA DPA Grant | Up to 2.5% of purchase price — true grant, never repaid | First-time buyers at or below income limits |
| Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage | Up to 5% as a deferred second mortgage | First-time buyers with a VHDA first mortgage |
| Granting Freedom | $2,500 closing cost credit | Veterans, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and teachers |
Maryland
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) | Competitive rate plus DPA second mortgage | Income-qualifying buyers statewide |
| SmartBuy 3.0 | Up to 15% DPA for student loan debt holders | Buyers with qualifying student loan debt |
| Baltimore City Employee Program | $5,000 forgivable loan | Baltimore City government workers |
Washington DC
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| DC Open Doors | Up to $202,000 in down payment assistance (DPA) — one of the largest homebuyer assistance programs available for qualifying buyers | DC residents meeting income requirements |
| HPAP (Home Purchase Assistance Program) | Interest-free deferred loan up to $84,000 | DC residents meeting income requirements |
California
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| CalHFA MyHome Assistance | Up to 3.5% as a deferred junior loan | First-time buyers; income limits apply |
| GSFA Platinum Grant | Up to 5% as a true grant with no repayment required | Flexible income limits and wider eligibility |
Washington DC
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| DC Open Doors | Up to $202,000 in down payment assistance (DPA) — one of the largest homebuyer assistance programs available for qualifying buyers | DC residents meeting income requirements |
| HPAP (Home Purchase Assistance Program) | Interest-free deferred loan up to $84,000 | DC residents meeting income requirements |
Florida
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| FL Assist | $10,000 at 0% interest, deferred until sale, payoff, or refinance | First-time buyers who meet income limits |
| Salute Our Soldiers Military Loan | 0% second mortgage assistance for military homebuyers in Florida | Active-duty service members and veterans purchasing a home in Florida |
West Virginia
| Program | Benefit | Who Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|
| WVHDF DPA | Down payment assistance for income-qualifying homebuyers | Income limits apply based on county guidelines |
| USDA Zero Down (All 55 WV Counties) | $0 down payment financing for eligible rural homebuyers; all 55 West Virginia counties are USDA-eligible | Household income at or below 115% of the area median income (AMI) |
THE 3 QUESTIONS DPA BUYERS ASK MOST
Most DPA programs require first-time buyer status — but the definition is usually ‘no primary residence ownership in the past 3 years,’ not a lifetime requirement. If you owned a home in 2019 and sold it, you are a first-time buyer again for DPA purposes in most programs. Veterans and buyers in certain target areas are sometimes exempt from the first-time requirement entirely.
Yes. FHA is the most compatible first mortgage for DPA programs. State housing finance agencies design their DPA grants specifically for FHA borrowers — covering the 3.5% minimum down payment so your actual cash to close drops to closing costs only. When sellers cover closing costs through negotiation, FHA-plus-DPA buyers sometimes close with near-zero out-of-pocket cost.
Income limits vary by state, county, and program — typically set at 80 to 120% of the area median income for the county. In high-income counties like Fairfax Virginia or Montgomery Maryland, the AMI is high, which means the income limit is also high. A household earning $120,000 in Fairfax County may still qualify for VHDA DPA. Access Financial confirms your income eligibility against current county AMI limits as part of every free pre-approval.
Why Most Eligible Buyers Never Access the DPA Money That Exists for Them
The National Council of State Housing Agencies documented $28 billion in DPA distributed nationally in 2022. Yet the National Association of Realtors found that 87% of first-time buyers identify the down payment as their primary barrier. The gap between available funding and buyer awareness is the real problem. A 2023 Freddie Mac study found that 72% of first-time buyers overestimate the minimum down payment required. Many who believe they need $40,000 to buy a home in Virginia need closer to $3,500 when DPA is applied correctly.
DPA funds distributed nationally in 2022
Of first-time buyers say down payment is their primary barrier
Of first-time buyers overestimate minimum down payment required
Frequently Asked Questions
Some state DPA programs accept ITIN borrowers. Eligibility varies by state and program. Federal fair housing law prohibits discrimination based on national origin. Some state housing finance agencies specifically extend DPA eligibility to ITIN-eligible buyers. In Virginia and California, select local programs have been extended. Access Financial evaluates DPA eligibility for ITIN applicants across all 7 licensed states as part of every consultation.
No. A DPA grant is free money — never repaid under any circumstance, even if you sell the home the following day. DPA grants like the VHDA DPA Grant in Virginia and the GSFA Platinum Grant in California are true grants — no lien, no repayment requirement, no clawback. Forgivable loans are different — they have a repayment clawback during the forgiveness period (typically 3 to 10 years) but are fully forgiven if you stay in the home past that period. Access Financial explains the repayment structure of every DPA option before you commit to a program.
Some DPA programs cover closing costs in addition to the down payment. Others cover only the down payment. Programs like Virginia's Granting Freedom specifically target closing costs. DC's HPAP covers both down payment and closing costs. CalHFA and TDHCA programs primarily address down payment. Access Financial identifies which programs in your state cover closing costs and which do not — and presents options that minimize your total cash requirement at closing.