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

Homebuyer Programs in Spokane, WA (2026)

Population: 231,311 | Median home price: $385,000 | Est. closing costs: $7,500 - $11,500

Skyline of Spokane, WA

Spokane is the largest city in Eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, with a population of over 231,000 and a median home price around $385,000, making it one of the more affordable major markets on the West Coast. While Spokane does not have a high-profile city-branded down payment assistance program, buyers can still access meaningful local help through Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP), Community Frameworks' HomeStarts program (up to $20,000), and Habitat for Humanity-Spokane. Combined with Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs like Home Advantage DPA, Opportunity DPA (up to $15,000), Veterans DPA (up to $10,000), and the Covenant Homeownership Program (up to $150,000 for eligible buyers), qualified first-time buyers in Spokane can stack significant assistance despite the lower profile of local DPAs.

City Programs in Spokane

Spokane Housing Authority Homeownership Program
Type:
Repayable Loan
Amount:
Monthly Housing Choice Voucher subsidy applied to mortgage payment
First-time only:
Yes

State Programs in Washington

Covenant Homeownership Program
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $150,000 (20% down plus 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
FHLBA Community Partners Product
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:
No
FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:
Yes
FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
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

Community Frameworks HomeStarts Program
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to $20,000
First-time only:
Yes
Habitat for Humanity Spokane Homeownership Program
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Below-market home sale with an affordable mortgage capped at 30% of gross monthly income
First-time only:
Yes
SNAP Down Payment Assistance Loan Program
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Amount determined during counseling based on borrower needs and program guidelines
First-time only:
Yes

How to Apply

Step 1:

Check your eligibility. Most Spokane-area programs require household income at or below 80% of Spokane County AMI. WSHFC Opportunity DPA is capped at $67,600 for 1-2 person households in Spokane County, while Home Advantage DPA allows household income up to $215,000.

Step 2:

Complete homebuyer education. SNAP offers a required homebuyer education seminar. Call SNAP at (509) 456-SNAP (7627) to schedule. WSHFC programs also accept the free 5-hour class at heretohome.org.

Step 3:

Contact SNAP early. SNAP Financial Access is Spokane's primary counseling and DPA hub. They can determine which programs you qualify for and walk you through the stacking strategy.

Step 4:

Get pre-approved through a WSHFC participating lender. This unlocks Home Advantage, Opportunity, HomeChoice, Veterans, and Covenant Homeownership Program.

Step 5:

If you are interested in a new-construction home, contact Community Frameworks at (509) 484-6733 about the HomeStarts program, which layers up to $20,000 in deferred DPA on qualifying new builds.

Step 6:

If you need a below-market purchase, contact Habitat for Humanity-Spokane at (509) 534-2552 to join the homeownership waitlist. The waitlist can run up to one year before application opens.

Step 7:

Close on your home. Most DPAs are reserved by the lender at the time of mortgage underwriting and disbursed at closing.

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