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

Homebuyer Programs in Edmonds, WA (2026)

Population: 42,701 | Median home price: $895,000 | Est. closing costs: $18,000 - $27,000

Skyline of Edmonds, WA

Edmonds is a waterfront Snohomish County city of about 42,701 residents on Puget Sound, with a median home price near $895,000 — one of the more expensive Snohomish County markets. The City of Edmonds does not currently run its own homebuyer down payment assistance program, so buyers stack help from the Snohomish County Down Payment Assistance Program (up to $50,000 as a 30-year deferred loan), the Washington State Housing Finance Commission Home Advantage DPA (up to 5% of the loan), HomeChoice (up to $15,000 for buyers with disabilities), Veterans DPA (up to $10,000), and the Covenant Homeownership Program (up to $150,000 for eligible historically excluded buyers). Habitat for Humanity Snohomish County serves Edmonds families at 30%-80% of Snohomish County AMI. Credit union grants from BECU (up to $8,000) and WSECU (up to $10,000) reduce closing-day costs.

County Programs in Snohomish County

Snohomish County Down Payment Assistance Program
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to $50,000
First-time only:
Yes

State Programs in Washington

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

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

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
Habitat for Humanity Snohomish County Homeownership Program
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
WSECU Welcome Home Grant
Type:
Grant
Amount:
Up to 5% of the home sale price, not to exceed $10,000
First-time only:
Yes

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Most local programs require household income at or below 80% of Snohomish County AMI, which is roughly $147,400 for a four-person household in 2026. Pull a recent pay stub and tax return to verify.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Washington Homeownership Resource Center, Habitat Snohomish County, and HomeSight all offer HUD-approved courses. Most state, county, and credit union programs require a certificate.

Step 3: Contact a local nonprofit. For Habitat homeownership in the Edmonds area, contact Habitat for Humanity Snohomish County at homeownerservices@habitatsnohomish.org or 425-405-7765. For the Snohomish County DPA, contact a participating WSHFC lender.

Step 4: 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, the Snohomish County DPA pairing, and Covenant Homeownership programs. Call the Washington Homeownership Hotline at 1-877-894-4663 to find one. WSECU and BECU originate WSHFC loans alongside their own grants.

Step 5: Find a home within program price limits. Given Edmonds prices near $895,000, work closely with your lender on WSHFC sales price caps. Habitat homes are pre-priced below market and inventory is limited.

Step 6: Submit your loan and DPA application. State and county DPA are processed alongside your mortgage application. Habitat applications follow their own intake cycles, so plan ahead.

Step 7: Close on your home. Snohomish County and WSHFC DPA loans record as deferred second mortgages. Credit union grants apply as a credit on your closing disclosure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Edmonds?+
Buyers can stack significant assistance. The Snohomish County DPA provides up to $50,000. From the state, Home Advantage DPA provides up to 5% of the first mortgage, HomeChoice adds up to $15,000, Veterans DPA adds up to $10,000, Opportunity DPA adds up to $15,000, and Covenant Homeownership can provide up to $150,000 for eligible buyers. Credit unions add up to $10,000 (WSECU) or $8,000 (BECU). Even at the higher Edmonds price point, total stacked assistance can exceed $80,000.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+
Most programs require it. WSHFC Home Advantage, Snohomish County DPA, BECU and WSECU grants, and Habitat all require no homeownership in the past three years. The Covenant Homeownership Program waives the first-time buyer requirement for eligible historically excluded buyers, and the Veterans DPA does not require it for active and former service members.
Edmonds prices are high. Can I still qualify?+
Yes, but you need to watch the WSHFC sales price cap and the Snohomish County DPA loan-to-value rules. WSHFC sales price limits in Snohomish County align with the conventional loan limit (well above $700,000 for 2026). At the median Edmonds price, you may need to combine first-mortgage gift funds with DPA to keep the loan within program limits. Your WSHFC lender can model this.
What is the maximum home price?+
WSHFC and Snohomish County DPA both follow conventional loan limits, well above $700,000 for 2026. Habitat homes are priced well below the Edmonds median of $895,000. Verify current limits with your lender before making an offer.
What homebuyer education is required?+
Most state and nonprofit programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The Washington Homeownership Resource Center, Habitat Snohomish County, and HomeSight all offer qualifying classes online and in person. Plan for 5 to 8 hours of coursework plus a one-on-one counseling session for some programs.
Are there affordable rentals or community land trust homes in Edmonds?+
Housing Hope, the largest nonprofit affordable housing developer in Snohomish County, recently opened the 52-unit Madrona Highlands rental community in Edmonds and is developing Scriber Place with the Edmonds School District. These are primarily rentals rather than for-sale homeownership, but signal increasing affordable housing activity in Edmonds. For-sale community land trust options in Snohomish County are more limited; ask Habitat Snohomish County about for-sale opportunities as they come online.

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