In short
Virginia Housing, the state housing finance agency, offers first-time buyers a Down Payment Assistance Grant of up to 2% to 2.5% of the price, according to its Home Loan Options booklet. In the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area, its grants require household income of $148,000 or less (two people or fewer) and a price of $800,000 or less (limits effective August 1, 2026). Arlington County adds a 0% loan of up to $112,500.
Virginia Housing programs
Virginia Housing was created by the General Assembly in 1972. Its programs are delivered through approved lenders, so you apply through a lender, not directly.
| Program | What it gives | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Grant | A grant, never repaid. Maximum 2% to 2.5% of the purchase price depending on the loan type, per the booklet | First-time buyer (or repeat buyer in an Area of Economic Opportunity); Virginia Housing bond FHA or Conventional loan; income and price limits |
| Closing Cost Assistance (CCA) Grant | A grant, never repaid. Up to 2% of the price, for closing costs, USDA guarantee or VA funding fees | Same buyer test; Virginia Housing bond USDA (Rural Housing Service) or VA loan |
| Plus Second Mortgage | A 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage covering the down payment; maximum 5% of the price per the program page | First-time or repeat buyers; FHA or Conventional first mortgage; Virginia Housing income limits |
| Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA first mortgages | Low-down-payment first mortgages: 3% down (Conventional, 640 minimum credit score), 3.5% (FHA, 620), 0% (VA, USDA) | See the Home Loan Options page |
Source: Virginia Housing, program pages and Home Loan Options booklet, read October 13, 2026. The booklet is undated and gives a range for the grant and the second mortgage; the program pages give less detail. Ask a Virginia Housing-approved lender for the exact amount on your loan.
Two details matter. The grants “may only be used with eligible Virginia Housing loans”. The Plus Second Mortgage can also finance part of the closing costs if your credit score is 680 or higher.
Income and price limits near Arlington
Arlington County is part of Virginia Housing’s “Washington, Arlington, Alexandria” area. These limits apply to applications from August 1, 2026, for first-time buyers:
| Program group | Income, 2 people or fewer | Income, 3 or more | Maximum price or loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPA / CCA grant programs | $148,000 | $174,000 | $800,000 |
| Standard (bond) programs | $186,000 | $217,000 | $800,000 |
| Expanded (non-bond), first-time and repeat buyers | $245,000, all household sizes | No sales price limit; follow the loan limits of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the insurer or the guarantor |
Source: Virginia Housing, “Income and Sales Price / Loan Limits”, effective 8/1/2026. For the grant and bond programs, the income counted is that of all household members. For the rest of Virginia, the limits are lower: for example $90,000 and $500,000 for grants in “All Other Areas of Virginia”.
Virginia Housing also requires the free homebuyer course for its loans. The online course takes about eight hours on average, according to Virginia Housing; in-person and virtual classes are also offered. If two people share the mortgage, each must take the class.
Programs in Arlington County
Arlington County’s Moderate-Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP) is a down payment and closing cost assistance loan for first-time buyers, defined by the county as buyers who have not owned a home in the previous three years.
- Amount: up to 25% of the purchase price. A full 25% is not guaranteed, says the county.
- Terms: 30 years, 0% interest, no monthly payments. You repay the loan when you sell, refinance or at the end of the term, plus a share of the home’s equity (the county’s page says up to 25% of net appreciation).
- Property: in Arlington County; houses, townhouses, duplexes and condominiums.
- Your money: at least 1% of the price as a down payment.
- Second mortgage: MIPAP sits behind your first mortgage, so you need pre-approval from a Virginia Housing-approved lender first.
| Household size | Maximum household income, 2026 (MIPAP) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $93,040 |
| 2 | $106,320 |
| 3 | $119,600 |
| 4 | $132,880 |
| 5 | $144,520 |
| 6 | $154,160 |
Source: Arlington County, MIPAP fact sheet (revision of May 20, 2026) and MIPAP page.
The county’s two documents disagree on the caps. The fact sheet (revised May 20, 2026) says a maximum loan of $112,500, a maximum price of $500,000 and a minimum credit score of 660. The MIPAP web page, read the same day, says a cap of $120,000 for households of one to three and $130,000 for four or more, a maximum price of $650,000, and does not list a credit score. Confirm the current numbers with the Housing Division (homeownership@arlingtonva.us, 703-228-3765) before you plan around them.
A worked example
Take a $450,000 condominium in Arlington. At 25%, MIPAP could cover up to $112,500, which is exactly the fact sheet’s cap. You would put down at least 1%, or $4,500. If you also used a Virginia Housing FHA bond loan with the DPA Grant at its 2.5% maximum, the grant would be up to $11,250 on that price. Whether you can combine the county loan with the state grant, and the final amounts, is for the county and your lender to confirm; neither source we read describes the combination.
How to apply
- Take the free Virginia Housing homebuyer class.
- Find a Virginia Housing-approved lender and get pre-approved.
- For MIPAP, complete the county’s pre-approval application and request access to its secure document portal; documents are due within 48 hours of getting access. The county says review may take up to 60 days.
See also our Arlington page, the Virginia closing costs guide, the national guides on FHA loans, VA loans and private mortgage insurance, and the steps of buying a home.
Frequently asked questions
What help is available for first-time buyers in Virginia?
Virginia Housing offers a Down Payment Assistance Grant, a Closing Cost Assistance Grant for USDA and VA loans, a Plus Second Mortgage and several low-down-payment first mortgages. Arlington County adds the MIPAP loan.
Do I have to repay the Virginia Housing grants?
No. Virginia Housing describes both the Down Payment Assistance Grant and the Closing Cost Assistance Grant as true grants that never need repayment. The Plus Second Mortgage is a loan and is repaid over 30 years.
What income can I earn and still qualify near Arlington?
For Virginia Housing’s grant programs, household income of $148,000 (two people or fewer) or $174,000 (three or more), with a price up to $800,000, for applications from August 1, 2026. Arlington’s MIPAP has its own, lower limits by household size, starting at $93,040 for one person.
Do I need to take a homebuyer class?
Yes, for Virginia Housing loans and for MIPAP. Virginia Housing’s class is free and can be taken online, which takes about eight hours on average.
Do the programs require me to be a first-time buyer?
Mostly yes. Virginia Housing’s grants require a first-time buyer, or a repeat buyer purchasing in an Area of Economic Opportunity. Its Plus Second Mortgage and non-bond conventional loan are open to repeat buyers. MIPAP defines a first-time buyer as someone who has not owned a home in the previous three years.
Compare with the other states: First-time home buyer programs by state.
More Virginia guides
- Closing costs in Virginia: what buyers and sellers pay
- Virginia transfer tax: recordation tax and grantor tax
- Virginia property tax: how it works, with Arlington figures
- Seller disclosure in Virginia: the buyer-beware form
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Virginia?
- Foreclosure process in Virginia: notices, sale and timeline
- Home prices in Virginia and Arlington: median value and trend
- How to verify a real estate license in Virginia
Sources
- Income and Sales Price / Loan Limits, effective 8/1/2026 (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Down Payment Assistance Grant (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Closing Cost Assistance Grant (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Home Loan Options (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Home Loan Options booklet (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Homebuyer Education (Virginia Housing) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Moderate-Income Purchase Assistance Program, MIPAP (Arlington County) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- MIPAP fact sheet, rev. 5/20/2026 (Arlington County) (consulted October 13, 2026)