See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 28, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Burien, WA (2026)
Burien is a South King County city of about 50,730 residents just south of Seattle, with a median home price near $660,000. Although the City of Burien does not run its own down payment assistance program, buyers here can stack significant help: the Washington State Housing Finance Commission offers Home Advantage DPA up to 5% of the loan, the HomeChoice program provides up to $15,000 for buyers with disabilities, the Veterans DPA program offers up to $10,000, and the Covenant Homeownership Program can provide up to $150,000 for buyers harmed by past racially restrictive covenants. Locally, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties just completed the 40-home Miller's Creek Community in Burien for families under 80% AMI, Homestead Community Land Trust sells homes in Burien at roughly half of market through its 99-year ground lease model, and the King County Housing Authority Homeownership Voucher Program lets eligible Section 8 households apply their voucher subsidy toward a mortgage. Credit union grants from BECU (up to $8,000) and WSECU (up to $10,000) can stack on top of state assistance to lower out-of-pocket costs at closing.
County Programs in King 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 → |
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Monthly Housing Choice Voucher subsidy applied to mortgage payment in place of rent.
- 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 → |
| Homestead Community Land Trust Homeownership | Silent Second Mortgage | Homes sold 30-50% below market through community land trust model | 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:
- Silent Second Mortgage
- Amount:
- Homes sold 30-50% below market through community land trust model
- 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
Confirm your eligibility. Most local programs require household income at or below 80% of King County AMI, which is roughly $147,400 for a four-person household. Veteran, disability, and Covenant programs have separate criteria.
Complete homebuyer education. The Washington Homeownership Resource Center, HomeSight, and Homestead Community Land Trust all offer HUD-approved courses. Most state and credit union programs require a certificate.
Contact a local nonprofit. For Habitat homeownership, contact Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties through habitatskc.org. For below-market CLT homes in Burien, contact Homestead Community Land Trust at (206) 323-1227. For Section 8 voucher homeownership, call the 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, 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 sales price limits in King County align with conventional loan limits. Habitat and Homestead CLT homes are pre-priced below market and inventory is limited.
Submit your loan and DPA application. State DPA is processed alongside your mortgage. Habitat and Homestead applications follow their own intake cycles, so plan ahead, especially given the multi-year waitlist at Homestead.
Close on your home. WSHFC DPA records as a deferred second mortgage. Credit union grants apply as a credit on your closing disclosure.