See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 28, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Bothell, WA (2026)
Bothell is a North King and South Snohomish County city of about 50,213 residents, home to the University of Washington Bothell campus, with a median home price near $970,000. Because Bothell straddles two counties, buyers here can pull from program pools in both: the ARCH East King County Down Payment Assistance Loan provides up to $30,000 for the King County side, the ARCH Affordable Homeownership Program offers below-market resale-restricted homes typically tens of thousands below market, and the Snohomish County Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $50,000 for the Snohomish portion. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission stacks on top with Home Advantage DPA up to 5% of the loan, Veterans DPA up to $10,000, HomeChoice up to $15,000 for buyers with disabilities, and the Covenant Homeownership Program up to $150,000. Habitat for Humanity Snohomish County and Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties both serve Bothell families at 30%-80% AMI, the King County Housing Authority Homeownership Voucher Program lets eligible Section 8 households apply their voucher toward a mortgage, and credit union grants from BECU (up to $8,000) and WSECU (up to $10,000) reduce closing-day costs.
City Programs in Bothell
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH Affordable Homeownership Program | Grant | Below-market home purchase; subsidy value varies by property (typically tens of thousands to $100,000+ off comparable market-rate homes). | Yes | View → |
| ARCH East King County Down Payment Assistance Loan | Deferred Loan | Up to $30,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Below-market home purchase; subsidy value varies by property (typically tens of thousands to $100,000+ off comparable market-rate homes).
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- First-time only:
- No
County Programs in King County / Snohomish County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County Housing Authority Homeownership Voucher Program | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Monthly Housing Choice Voucher subsidy applied to mortgage payment in place of rent. | Yes | View → |
| Snohomish County Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $50,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Monthly Housing Choice Voucher subsidy applied to mortgage payment in place of rent.
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Washington
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covenant Homeownership Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $150,000 (20% down plus closing costs) | Yes | View → |
| Home Advantage DPA | Deferred Loan | Up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount | No | View → |
| Home Advantage Needs-Based DPA | Deferred Loan | Up to $10,000 | No | View → |
| HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
| Opportunity Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
| Veterans Down Payment Assistance | Repayable Loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $150,000 (20% down plus closing costs)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BECU First-Time Homebuyer Grant | Grant | Up to $8,000 (the lesser of 3% of purchase price, 3% of appraised value, or $8,000) | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home sale with zero percent interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity Snohomish County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home sale with zero-percent or low-interest affordable mortgage. Effective subsidy typically tens of thousands of dollars. | Yes | View → |
| WSECU Welcome Home Grant | Grant | Up to 5% of the home sale price, not to exceed $10,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $8,000 (the lesser of 3% of purchase price, 3% of appraised value, or $8,000)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home sale with zero percent interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home sale with zero-percent or low-interest affordable mortgage. Effective subsidy typically tens of thousands of dollars.
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of the home sale price, not to exceed $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Identify which side of Bothell your home is on. King County addresses qualify for ARCH and KCHA programs; Snohomish County addresses qualify for the Snohomish County DPA and Habitat Snohomish. Your title commitment will confirm the county.
Confirm income eligibility. Most local programs require household income at or below 80% of King or Snohomish County AMI (roughly $147,400 for a four-person household in either county for 2026).
Complete homebuyer education. The Washington Homeownership Resource Center, ARCH, and Habitat all offer HUD-approved courses. Most state and credit union programs require a certificate.
Contact a local nonprofit. For ARCH homes and DPA, visit archhousing.org. For Habitat homeownership, contact Habitat Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties at habitatskc.org or Habitat Snohomish County at homeownerservices@habitatsnohomish.org or 425-405-7765. For Section 8 voucher homeownership, call King County Housing Authority at (206) 574-1100.
Get pre-approved through a participating WSHFC lender. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission has a network of lenders trained on Home Advantage, HomeChoice, Opportunity, Veterans DPA, ARCH, and Covenant Homeownership programs. Call the Washington Homeownership Hotline at 1-877-894-4663 to find one. WSECU and BECU both originate WSHFC loans alongside their own grants.
Find a home within program price limits. WSHFC and ARCH sales price limits in King County align with the conventional loan limit (well above $700,000 for 2026). Habitat homes are pre-priced below market and inventory is limited.
Submit your loan and DPA application. State DPA and ARCH DPA are processed alongside your mortgage application. Habitat applications follow their own intake cycles, so plan ahead.
Close on your home. WSHFC and ARCH DPA loans record as deferred second mortgages. Credit union grants apply as a credit on your closing disclosure.