See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 24, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Seattle, WA (2026)
Seattle is Washington's largest city and the economic hub of the Puget Sound region, with a population of over 816,000 and a median home price around $850,000. While Seattle is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, buyers can stack significant assistance to make homeownership attainable. The Seattle Office of Housing offers down payment assistance up to $55,000 for open-market purchases and up to $90,000 for resale-restricted homes, HomeSight provides up to $76,000 for purchases within Seattle city limits, and the Sam Smith Hi Neighbor Fund adds up to $20,000 for eligible Black and African American buyers. Combined with Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs like the Covenant Homeownership Program (up to $150,000) and Home Advantage DPA, qualified first-time buyers in Seattle can access well over $100,000 in stackable assistance.
City Programs in Seattle
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Housing Authority Homeownership Program | Repayable Loan | Monthly Housing Choice Voucher subsidy applied to mortgage payment | Yes | View → |
| Seattle Office of Housing Down Payment Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to $55,000 for open-market homes; up to $70,000 for resale-restricted homes with fewer than 3 bedrooms; up to $90,000 for resale-restricted homes with 3+ bedrooms | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Monthly Housing Choice Voucher subsidy applied to mortgage payment
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $55,000 for open-market homes; up to $70,000 for resale-restricted homes with fewer than 3 bedrooms; up to $90,000 for resale-restricted homes with 3+ bedrooms
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home sale with zero percent interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
| HomeSight Seattle Purchase Assistance | Deferred Loan | Up to $76,000 | Yes | View → |
| Homestead Community Land Trust Homeownership | Silent Second Mortgage | Homes sold 30-50% below market through community land trust model | Yes | View → |
| Sam Smith Hi Neighbor Homeownership Fund | Deferred Loan | Up to $20,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home sale with zero percent interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $76,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Silent Second Mortgage
- Amount:
- Homes sold 30-50% below market through community land trust model
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Seattle programs require household income at or below 80% of King County AMI. WSHFC programs like Home Advantage allow income up to $215,000, while Opportunity DPA is capped at $96,950 for 1-2 person King County households.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Most programs require either a 5-hour WSHFC class (heretohome.org) or HUD-approved counseling. Local HUD-approved providers include HomeSight at (206) 760-4200, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Solid Ground at (206) 694-6700, and El Centro de la Raza at (206) 957-4605.
Step 3: Contact a housing counselor or CDFI early. HomeSight is Seattle's primary CDFI for homebuyer assistance and can guide you to the right stack of programs. Reach them at (206) 760-4200.
Step 4: Get pre-approved through a WSHFC participating lender. This unlocks Home Advantage, Opportunity, HomeChoice, Veterans, and Covenant Homeownership Program.
Step 5: Search for homes within program limits. Resale-restricted homes from Homestead Community Land Trust or Habitat for Humanity can unlock the largest Seattle Office of Housing DPA amounts (up to $90,000).
Step 6: Submit your application before going under contract, especially for the Covenant Homeownership Program, which requires written Commission authorization prior to signing a purchase contract for agreements dated April 20, 2026 or later.
Step 7: Close on your home. Most DPAs are reserved by the lender at the time of mortgage underwriting and disbursed at closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Seattle?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What is the Covenant Homeownership Program and who qualifies?+−
Can I buy a home in Seattle with a Section 8 voucher?+−
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