See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 31, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Parkersburg, WV (2026)
Parkersburg, situated along the Ohio River in northwestern West Virginia, offers one of the most affordable housing markets in the state with a median home price around $150,000. The standout local program is the Parkersburg/Wood County Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides first-time buyers with up to $15,000 in forgivable loan assistance for down payment and closing costs on homes priced up to $250,000. The Parkersburg Housing Authority also runs the P.R.I.D.E. lease-to-purchase program for low-income families. At the state level, the WVHDF Homeownership Program offers first-time buyers 100% financing plus up to $10,000 in additional help, while the Movin' Up Program serves repeat buyers with up to $8,000. By combining the city's $15,000 forgivable loan with a WVHDF mortgage, qualified Parkersburg buyers could access up to $25,000 in total assistance.
City Programs in Parkersburg
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg Housing Authority P.R.I.D.E. Program | Repayable Loan | Two-year lease-to-purchase homeownership opportunity on selected housing | No | View → |
| Parkersburg/Wood County Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Two-year lease-to-purchase homeownership opportunity on selected housing
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 for down payment and closing costs
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley 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 Parkersburg/Wood County DPAP requires income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Wood County (approximately $56,800 for a family of four) and a purchase price of $250,000 or less. You must invest a minimum of $500 toward the purchase.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Community Resources Inc. (CRI) offers HUD-certified 8-hour homebuyer education classes for SHOP loan borrowers in Parkersburg. Contact CRI at (304) 485-5525 at 1218 Market Street, Parkersburg.
Step 3: Contact the City Development Department. Call (304) 424-8519 or email housing@parkersburgwv.gov to learn about the Down Payment Assistance Program. Download the DPAP application from the city website, complete it, and return it to the Development Department.
Step 4: Explore additional local programs. Contact Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley at habitatmov.com for their affordable homeownership program. The Parkersburg Housing Authority at (304) 428-6753 offers the P.R.I.D.E. lease-to-purchase program for low-income families.
Step 5: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact a WVHDF-approved lender or call 800-933-8511 to explore the Homeownership Program (up to $10,000 DPA) or Movin' Up Program (up to $8,000 DPA).
Step 6: Find a home within program limits. For the city DPAP, the purchase price must not exceed $250,000 and the home must be a single-family residence in Wood County.
Step 7: Submit your applications and close. Work with your lender and housing counselor to submit all program applications. The DPAP forgivable loan has no monthly payments and is forgiven after 5 to 7 years of owner-occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Parkersburg, WV?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get assistance in Parkersburg?+−
What is the maximum home price I can purchase with assistance programs?+−
What homebuyer education is required in Parkersburg?+−
Is the Parkersburg down payment assistance truly forgivable?+−
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