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By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 24, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Everett, WA (2026)

Population: 116,000 | Median home price: $575,000 | Est. closing costs: $11,500 - $17,500

Skyline of Everett, WA

Everett is the county seat of Snohomish County and a major Puget Sound job hub, home to Boeing's widebody-aircraft assembly plant and Naval Station Everett. The median home price sits around $575,000 — significantly below King County markets like Seattle and Bellevue. First-time buyers in Everett can stack the Snohomish County Down Payment Assistance Program (up to $50,000 at 3% deferred interest) with Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs like Home Advantage DPA (up to 5% of the first mortgage), HomeChoice ($15,000), and Opportunity DPA ($15,000). Nonprofit partners Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County and Homes and Hope Community Land Trust build and sell permanently affordable homes in Everett, and the statewide Covenant Homeownership Program offers up to $150,000 to qualifying first-time buyers whose ancestors were excluded from homeownership by historical discrimination.

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

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
Homes and Hope 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
Sam Smith Hi Neighbor Homeownership Fund
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to $20,000
First-time only:
No

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Snohomish County DPA targets households at or below 80% of county AMI. Home Advantage accepts Snohomish County household incomes up to $147,400, and HomeChoice and Opportunity DPA have separate household income limits.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Take the free WSHFC 5-hour Homebuyer Education Seminar online or in person — required for all WSHFC mortgage and DPA programs.

Step 3: Contact HomeSight at 206-723-4355 for the Snohomish County DPA Program. HomeSight administers the county program and can confirm current funding availability.

Step 4: Get pre-approved with a WSHFC- and HomeSight-participating lender. Your lender will layer the county DPA with state DPA programs for maximum assistance.

Step 5: Contact local nonprofits if you may qualify. Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County at 425-405-7765 builds new and rehabilitated homes in Everett and across the county. Homes and Hope Community Land Trust at homesandhopeclt.org offers permanently affordable CLT homes with projects underway in Everett.

Step 6: Find a home in Snohomish County within program limits. Most WSHFC and Snohomish County DPA programs allow any single-family home used as primary residence.

Step 7: Close on your home. Your lender submits DPA reservations to HomeSight and WSHFC and coordinates closing, including any required post-purchase counseling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Everett, WA?+
Qualifying Everett buyers can stack multiple programs. The Snohomish County DPA provides up to $50,000 as a deferred 3% second mortgage. WSHFC Home Advantage DPA adds up to 5% of the first mortgage, and HomeChoice or Opportunity DPA each offer up to $15,000. Combined, most buyers receive $50,000-$75,000+ in assistance. The Covenant Homeownership Program can add up to $150,000 for qualifying buyers. Nonprofit options like Habitat Snohomish and Homes and Hope CLT provide additional tens of thousands of effective subsidy through below-market pricing.
Who administers the Snohomish County DPA Program?+
Snohomish County's Office of Housing, Homelessness and Community Development funds the program through HOME/ADDI federal funds, and HomeSight administers the application and loan process. Applicants should contact HomeSight at 206-723-4355 or homesightwa.org for eligibility review and current funding availability.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+
Yes for most programs serving Everett. The Snohomish County DPA, Habitat Snohomish, Homes and Hope CLT, HomeChoice, and Opportunity DPA all require that you have not owned a home in the past three years. The Covenant Homeownership Program and the Home Advantage first mortgage do not strictly require first-time buyer status.
What are the income limits?+
Snohomish County DPA limits household income to 80% of Area Median Income. WSHFC Home Advantage allows up to $147,400 household income for Snohomish County buyers. HomeChoice, Opportunity DPA, and Covenant have their own limits. Verify specific caps with your lender or WSHFC.
What homebuyer education is required?+
The Washington State Housing Finance Commission requires a free 5-hour Homebuyer Education Seminar (online or in person) for all WSHFC mortgage and DPA programs, and the Snohomish County DPA requires the same course. Nonprofit programs like Habitat and Homes and Hope CLT require their own homebuyer education and orientation.
How does the Homes and Hope Community Land Trust work?+
Homes and Hope CLT keeps homes permanently affordable by separating ownership of the land from ownership of the home. You buy the home at below-market price and enter a renewable ground lease. When you sell, the home remains affordable for the next income-qualified buyer. Homes and Hope serves households earning 50-100% of Snohomish County AMI and has two Everett projects in development.

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