See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 31, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Fairmont, WV (2026)
Fairmont is the county seat of Marion County in north-central West Virginia, located along the Monongahela River about 20 miles south of Morgantown and home to Fairmont State University. With a median home price around $180,000, Fairmont offers affordable homeownership in a college-town setting. First-time buyers can access down payment and closing cost assistance through the Marion County HOME Down Payment Assistance Program, funded by HUD. The WVHDF Homeownership Program adds up to $10,000 in state-level assistance through the Low Down Home Loan. Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity also provides affordable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in Marion County. By combining county, state, and federal programs, Fairmont buyers can significantly reduce their out-of-pocket costs at closing.
County Programs in Marion County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County HOME Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Down payment and closing cost assistance (exact amount varies; contact county for current limits) | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment and closing cost assistance (exact amount varies; contact county for current limits)
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in West Virginia
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WVHDF Homeownership Program | Repayable Loan | Up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance via the Low Down Home Loan; 30-year fixed-rate mortgage financing up to 100% of purchase price | Yes | View → |
| WVHDF Movin' Up Program | Repayable Loan | No down payment assistance (Low Down Home Loan removed 9/30/2026); 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at 7.750% (Movin' Up Special 7.625%) for homes up to $350,000 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance via the Low Down Home Loan; 30-year fixed-rate mortgage financing up to 100% of purchase price
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- No down payment assistance (Low Down Home Loan removed 9/30/2026); 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at 7.750% (Movin' Up Special 7.625%) for homes up to $350,000
- First-time only:
- No
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage and sweat equity partnership | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage and sweat equity partnership
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Marion County HOME Down Payment Assistance Program requires first-time buyer status, meaning you have not owned a home in the past three years. Your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Marion County, and the property must be located within Marion County but outside Salem city limits.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority offers free HUD-approved homebuyer education courses and counseling services. Contact them at 304-363-0860 ext. 127 at 103 12th Street, Fairmont, WV 26554. A certificate of completion is required for most assistance programs.
Step 3: Apply for the Marion County HOME DPA. Visit bit.ly/MarionCoDPA to begin your application for the county's down payment and closing cost assistance. The property you purchase must meet HUD housing quality standards and be priced at 95% or less of the area median home price.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact a WVHDF participating lender at 800-933-8511 to explore the Homeownership Program, which offers 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with up to $10,000 in additional down payment assistance through the Low Down Home Loan. Fairmont Federal Credit Union also offers competitive mortgage options including no-down-payment purchase loans.
Step 5: Find a home within program guidelines. Work with a local real estate agent to find a property in Marion County that meets HUD housing quality standards and falls within the purchase price limits.
Step 6: Submit your applications. Your lender and housing counselor at the Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority will help coordinate applications for all eligible programs. Allow several weeks for processing and approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Fairmont?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What are the property requirements for the Marion County program?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Does Habitat for Humanity build homes in Fairmont?+−
Can I buy a home in Salem and still qualify for county assistance?+−
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