District of Columbia

DCHFA DC4ME program

The DCHFA offers the DC4ME program for government workers buying their first home (or their first home in the last three years). This first-time home buyer program in D.C. gives them a lower interest rate on a mortgage. They can also get 3 percent in down payment help, which is an extra loan with zero interest.

To qualify, you (or one of the borrowers) must work full-time for a District government agency, an independent agency, a District of Columbia Public Charter School, or another group overseen by the Council of the District. If you're not sure if your job qualifies, you can check a list of eligible employers.

You also need to meet these rules:

• Have a credit score of at least 640.
• Keep your debts compared to your income under 50%.
• Make sure your household income is no more than $199,200.
• Don't buy a home that costs more than $565,300.
• You'll also have to finish a class for first-time homebuyers.

DCHFA Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

The DCHFA’s Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) provides Washington D.C. first-time home buyers with up to $202,000 for their down payment. This money is given as a separate loan with no interest. How much you get depends on your income and the number of people in your household.

You have to pay back the HPAP loan when you sell the home, stop living there as your main home, or refinance your first mortgage. Here's how repayment works based on your income:

• If you earn a moderate income, you don't have to make payments for five years. After that, you pay off the loan over 40 years.
• If you have a low or very low income, you don't have to make any payments unless you move out, sell the home, or refinance.

You can also get up to $4,000 to help with closing costs if you qualify.

To be eligible, you must be the head of your household, have a low-to-moderate income according to HPAP's rules, and have a good credit score. The home you're buying has to be where you live most of the time, and it must be in Washington, D.C. You also need to put at least $500 of your own money toward buying the home.

HPAP loans are given priority to people with low incomes, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who already live in D.C. or have worked there for a year.

Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP)

Under this program, eligible government employees can get help with their down payment. They can receive up to $5,000 that matches their own money, and they might also get a loan of up to $20,000 that they don’t have to pay back right away. First responders and teachers might get extra help, like grants for Washington D.C. first-time home buyers.

Here's what you need to do to qualify:

• Work for a government agency in D.C., which includes public schools and charter schools.
• Have been working there for at least a year (unless you're a first responder or a teacher).
• Haven't owned a home in D.C. for the past three years.
• Attend an orientation and an eight-hour training course.

FHA Loans

Insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these loans require a minimum down payment of either 3.5 percent (if your credit score is 580 or higher) or 10 percent (if your score is between 500 and 579).

VA Loans

These loans are for active-duty military members, veterans, and their surviving spouses. They are guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and don't need a down payment. They also usually have lower interest rates.

USDA Loans

Created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), these loans don't need a down payment and are for low- and moderate-income buyers who are purchasing homes in USDA-approved rural areas. While D.C. isn't one of these areas, parts of Maryland and Virginia are.