Fairfax County Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) Homebuyer Program

The Lofts at Reston Station, a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath WDU in Reston, was listed at $398,001, about $187,000 below the $585,000 Reston median. The WDU minimum down payment is 2%, or $7,960, dropping to 1% ($3,980) with a credit score of 680 or higher. At 2% down the fixed-rate loan would be about $390,041, and the $1,000 contract deposit counts toward the cash you bring.

Estimated closing costs in the Reston area run $11,500 to $17,500, and the county requires buyers to document 3% to 5% for closing costs ($11,940 to $19,900 here). Gift funds can help but cannot exceed 50% of the price. Lenders also want one month of reserves left over, so plan on roughly $20,000 to $28,000 in total cash.

A first-time buyer within Virginia Housing's income limits could add the Virginia Housing Down Payment Assistance Grant, worth 2% with a Conventional Bond loan. That is $7,960 on this unit, enough to cover the full 2% down payment and leave about $11,940 for closing costs. Confirm with WDU staff and your lender that the Virginia Housing loan meets county underwriting first.

The Virginia Housing Down Payment Assistance Grant pays 2% of the price with a Conventional Bond loan or 2.5% with an FHA Bond loan, and it never has to be repaid. Because WDU loans only need to be fixed rate, a Virginia Housing first mortgage can qualify. Some 80% AMI WDU buyers may also get a Fairfax County CDBG down payment loan of up to $10,000, forgiven 20% per year over five years, when funding allows and the unit passes environmental review.

The Fairfax County Down Payment Loan cannot be used to buy a WDU or an Affordable Dwelling Unit, according to the county's April 2026 program package. Virginia Housing's grant cannot be paired with its Plus Second Mortgage, and it requires a first-time buyer or a purchase in an Area of Economic Opportunity. Gift money is capped at 50% of the price. Call the Homeownership Division at 703-246-5087 before committing to any assistance.

Other ways to cut cash to close: a credit score of 680 halves the WDU down payment from 2% to 1%, and households at 70% AMI or below may also qualify for the county's First-Time Homebuyers Program, which has its own lower-priced units. Virginia Housing (877-843-2123) can confirm its current grant income limits before you choose a lender.

The WDU program's biggest advantage is price. Recent listings ran from $186,600 to $538,050 in Reston, McLean, Herndon, Chantilly and Vienna, while the Reston median is $585,000. Prices are fixed and not negotiable, so there are no bidding wars, and the down payment can be as low as 1% with a 680 credit score. Income tiers reach 120% AMI on legacy units ($199,300 for a family of four), higher than most assistance programs. The county also sets no WDU minimum credit score and sends files outside its standards to a Loan Underwriting Committee instead of rejecting them.

The biggest limitation is the 30-year control period. You resell at a CPI-based control price, so in the county's own example a $325,000 unit bought in 2010 resells for $429,189 in 2025. After 30 years the county still takes half the net equity at sale. Inventory is thin and awarded by drawing, the home must stay your primary residence with no renting, and refinancing is capped at the principal balance. Buyers who want full appreciation should compare the Virginia Housing Down Payment Assistance Grant or a standard FHA loan with 3.5% down.