See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 28, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Sammamish, WA (2026)
Sammamish is a wealthy plateau community in East King County and one of Washington's most expensive housing markets, with a median home price around $1,450,000. Despite the price tag, Sammamish first-time buyers benefit from being inside ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing), the East King County partnership that includes Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, and Sammamish. ARCH operates the East King County Down Payment Assistance Loan offering up to $30,000 at 4% simple interest, plus the ARCH Affordable Homeownership Program which sells below-market homes to qualified buyers. King County Housing Authority programs, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County, and Homestead Community Land Trust extend the local options. Combined with Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs like Home Advantage DPA (up to 5% of the loan amount) and Opportunity DPA (up to $15,000), eligible Sammamish buyers can stack tens of thousands of dollars in assistance.
City Programs in Sammamish
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH Affordable Homeownership Program | Grant | Below-market home purchase; subsidy value varies by property (typically tens of thousands to $100,000+ off comparable market-rate homes). | Yes | View → |
| ARCH East King County Down Payment Assistance Loan | Deferred Loan | Up to $30,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Below-market home purchase; subsidy value varies by property (typically tens of thousands to $100,000+ off comparable market-rate homes).
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $30,000
- First-time only:
- No
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
- 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
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. ARCH East King County DPA requires income at or below the published limits (roughly $72,000 for a household of 4) and use of an approved WSHFC first mortgage. Most state programs require household income at or below 80% of the King County area median.
Complete WSHFC-sponsored homebuyer education. A free five-hour seminar is required for all WSHFC and ARCH down payment assistance programs. Find an upcoming class through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission at (800) 767-4663.
Contact ARCH about the Affordable Homeownership Program. ARCH maintains a portfolio of below-market-rate homes available to income-qualified buyers across Sammamish and other East King County cities. Visit archhousing.org or call (425) 861-3677 to learn what is currently available.
Get pre-approved with a WSHFC-participating lender. The state maintains a list of approved lenders who can pair WSHFC first mortgages with ARCH DPA, Home Advantage DPA, Opportunity DPA, or Veterans DPA.
Find a home within program limits. Given Sammamish's very high prices, DPA-eligible buyers typically focus on condos, townhomes, or ARCH-restricted units rather than detached single-family homes.
Submit your application through your lender. The DPA loan and first mortgage are processed together, and funds are delivered at closing.
Close and move in. Most ARCH and WSHFC DPA loans are deferred or forgivable second mortgages, so there is no monthly DPA payment as long as you remain in the home.