See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 28, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Puyallup, WA (2026)
Puyallup is a Pierce County city of about 42,179 residents at the foot of Mount Rainier, with a median home price near $590,000. Although the City of Puyallup does not run its own homebuyer down payment assistance program, Puyallup buyers benefit from a Pierce County DPA pool that excludes Tacoma, Lakewood, Bonney Lake, Auburn, and Pacific — meaning Puyallup is on the eligible list. The Pierce County Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $24,900 as a 30-year deferred loan, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission Home Advantage DPA adds up to 5% of the loan, HomeChoice provides up to $15,000 for buyers with disabilities, Veterans DPA adds up to $10,000, and the Covenant Homeownership Program can provide up to $150,000 for eligible historically excluded buyers. Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity serves Puyallup families at 80% AMI or below. Credit union grants from BECU (up to $8,000) and WSECU (up to $10,000) reduce closing-day costs.
County Programs in Pierce County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $24,900 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $24,900
- 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 → |
- 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
- 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 → |
| 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:
- 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 → |
| Tacoma Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home sale with zero percent interest mortgage and payment capped at 30% of gross monthly income | 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 and payment capped at 30% of gross monthly income
- 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
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Most local programs require household income at or below 80% of Pierce County AMI (roughly $96,500 for a family of four for 2026). Pull a recent pay stub and tax return to verify.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Washington Homeownership Resource Center, Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat, and HomeSight all offer HUD-approved courses. The Pierce County DPA, WSHFC programs, and credit union grants all require a certificate.
Step 3: Contact a participating WSHFC lender for the Pierce County DPA. The Pierce County DPA pairs only with WSHFC Home Advantage or House Key Opportunity first mortgages. Call the Washington Homeownership Hotline at 1-877-894-4663 to find a lender. WSECU and BECU originate WSHFC loans alongside their own grants.
Step 4: For Habitat homeownership, contact Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity at owninpierce.com or 4824 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma. You must have lived or worked in Pierce County for at least 12 months and complete 100 sweat equity hours within 4-6 months.
Step 5: Find a home within Puyallup city limits or unincorporated Pierce County. The Pierce County DPA covers all of Pierce County except Tacoma, Lakewood, Bonney Lake, Auburn, and Pacific. Verify your target address is on the eligible list before making an offer.
Step 6: Submit your loan and DPA application. The Pierce County DPA processes alongside your WSHFC first mortgage. Habitat applications follow their own intake cycles, so plan ahead.
Step 7: Close on your home. Pierce 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 Puyallup?+−
Why is Puyallup eligible for the Pierce County DPA when Tacoma is not?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What is the minimum I have to put down?+−
Free eligibility check
Buying a home in Puyallup? 17 programs could help.
How soon are you looking to buy?