See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 28, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Camas, WA (2026)

Population: 27,254 | Median home price: $720,000 | Est. closing costs: $14,500 - $21,500

Camas is a Clark County city of about 27,250, sitting along the Columbia River about 18 miles east of Vancouver and just across the river from Portland, Oregon. The typical home here runs about $720,000, putting estimated closing costs in the $14,500 to $21,500 range — well above the Washington average, reflecting Camas's strong school district and family-oriented neighborhoods. The City of Camas does not operate its own homebuyer down payment assistance program, but Clark County buyers can access one of the most generous DPA stacks in the state — the Clark County Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $60,000 (combining $45,000 from Clark County and $15,000 from WSHFC). Layered with state options like the Home Advantage DPA, the Covenant Homeownership Program (up to $150,000), and federal loans like FHA, VA, and USDA — plus regional nonprofit support through Evergreen Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground Community Land Trust — qualifying buyers can significantly reduce the cash needed at closing.

County Programs in Clark County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Clark County Down Payment Assistance Program	Deferred Loan	Up to $60,000 ($45,000 from Clark County + $15,000 from WSHFC)	Yes	View →

Clark County Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $60,000 ($45,000 from Clark County + $15,000 from WSHFC)
First-time only:: Yes

State Programs in Washington

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Covenant Homeownership Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to 20% of the purchase price (or appraised value, if lower), capped at $150,000, plus buyer-paid 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 →

Covenant Homeownership Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to 20% of the purchase price (or appraised value, if lower), capped at $150,000, plus buyer-paid closing costs
First-time only:: Yes

Home Advantage DPA

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount
First-time only:: No

Home Advantage Needs-Based DPA

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $10,000
First-time only:: No

HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $15,000
First-time only:: Yes

Opportunity Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $15,000
First-time only:: Yes

Veterans Down Payment Assistance

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 →
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 →

FHA Loans

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

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

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

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

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

HUD $100 Down Program

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

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

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 →
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Repayable Loan	Affordable home purchase with 4.5% fixed first-mortgage rate and approximately $30-$40/month land lease fee	Yes	View →
Proud Ground Community Land Trust Homeownership	Grant	Below-market home purchase through permanently affordable community land trust model; subsidy value varies by property.	Yes	View →
WSECU Welcome Home Grant	Grant	Up to 5% of the home sale price, not to exceed $10,000	Yes	View →

BECU First-Time Homebuyer Grant

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

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Repayable Loan
Amount:: Affordable home purchase with 4.5% fixed first-mortgage rate and approximately $30-$40/month land lease fee
First-time only:: Yes

Proud Ground Community Land Trust Homeownership

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Below-market home purchase through permanently affordable community land trust model; subsidy value varies by property.
First-time only:: Yes

WSECU Welcome Home Grant

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to 5% of the home sale price, not to exceed $10,000
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

18 programs available in Camas. See which ones you qualify for.

Free
No credit check
Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

Yes No Not sure

Question 1 of 6

housebuyerguides

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Clark County DPA program requires household income at or below 90% of area median income, first-time buyer status, and pre-purchase housing counseling. Most state DPA programs require a 620 minimum credit score and household income under the King/Snohomish or county-specific limits.

Step 2: Complete the required homebuyer education. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission requires a free five-hour homebuyer education seminar from an approved provider. The Clark County DPA program also requires pre-purchase counseling. Proud Ground and the Washington Homeownership Resource Center (1-877-894-4663) can connect you with approved providers.

Step 3: Get pre-approved through a participating lender. WSHFC publishes a list of approved Home Advantage and House Key lenders. Your loan officer can help you stack the Clark County DPA with state programs.

Step 4: Find a home within program purchase price limits. The Clark County DPA program has its own purchase price cap (verify current limit with your lender), and the Home Advantage program caps purchase prices at $1,000,000 in Clark County. Camas's $720,000 median sits comfortably under both.

Step 5: Layer your assistance. The combined Clark County + WSHFC DPA can reach $60,000. Add the Home Advantage DPA (5% of loan), the Opportunity DPA, or the Veterans DPA on top depending on eligibility.

Step 6: Submit your application through your lender. Clark County DPA applications are processed through the County Treasurer's office in coordination with your lender.

Step 7: Close on your home. DPA funds are disbursed at closing along with your first mortgage. Post-purchase counseling is also required for Clark County program participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Camas, WA?+

The Clark County Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $60,000 ($45,000 from Clark County + $15,000 from WSHFC) — one of the most generous county-level stacks in Washington. The Covenant Homeownership Program offers up to $150,000 for eligible buyers. The Home Advantage DPA loan covers up to 5% of the first mortgage, and the Opportunity DPA and HomeChoice programs each add up to $15,000. Veterans can layer the $10,000 Veterans DPA on top.

Does Camas qualify for the Clark County DPA program?+

Yes. The Clark County Down Payment Assistance Program is available throughout Clark County, including incorporated cities like Camas, Vancouver, and Washougal. You must be a first-time homebuyer with household income at or below 90% AMI for a household of four, complete pre-purchase counseling, and agree to attend post-purchase counseling.

Is Camas too expensive for state DPA programs?+

Not for most homes. The Home Advantage program caps purchase prices at $1,000,000 in Clark County, and the Camas median home price is around $720,000 — well under the cap. However, larger or newer construction homes that exceed $1,000,000 will not qualify. Also note that USDA loans are not available within Camas city limits — you would need to look at properties in unincorporated Clark County for USDA eligibility.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+

Most Washington DPA programs and the Clark County DPA require first-time buyer status, defined as not having owned a home in the past three years. The Covenant Homeownership Program waives this requirement for buyers from communities historically excluded from homeownership. Evergreen Habitat for Humanity also requires first-time buyer status.

What homebuyer education is required?+

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission requires a free five-hour homebuyer education seminar. The Clark County DPA also requires pre-purchase housing counseling. Both can be satisfied through Proud Ground Community Land Trust or the Washington Homeownership Resource Center hotline at 1-877-894-4663, which can connect you with HUD-approved providers in the area.

Can I use a credit union grant in Camas?+

Yes. BECU members can apply for the BECU First-Time Homebuyer Grant of up to $8,000, and WSECU members can use the Welcome Home Grant of up to $10,000 (5% of the home price). Both grants stack with the Clark County DPA and state programs, which is especially useful in higher-priced markets like Camas.

Free eligibility check

Buying a home in Camas? 18 programs could help.

Free
No credit check
Takes 2 minutes

How soon are you looking to buy?

Within 30 days 1–3 months 3–6 months 6–12 months Just researching