DC Metro Area Home Buying Opportunities
“DCHFA’s Single Family Programs division manages all of the Agency’s homeownership programs
with the goal of expanding and retaining homeownership opportunities in the District of Columbia.
The Agency offers a variety of programs for current and potential homeowners.
Many of these programs may be combined and used simultaneously.” -DCFHA.org
Learn more about DCFHA programs here.
Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)
This is a program that provides eligible first-time homebuyers with up to $84,000 in
combined down payment and closing cost assistance provided
as a no-interest loan with no required payments for the first five years.
Note: Immediate repayment of the remaining balance is required if the borrower sells or
refinances the property, or stops using it as their primary residence.
The first trust loan amount cannot exceed $510,400. You must apply using the link below.
Find out if you’re eligible and apply here.
Learn more here.
DC Open Doors
This program provides below-market interest rates for mortgages.
Qualified borrowers may be able to get assistance for the entirety of their minimum down payment as well.
This assistance is provided in the form of a deferred, non-amortizing, zero-interest loan.
No repayment is required unless the borrower refinances the mortgage, sells or transfers the home,
establishes another primary residence or 30 years have passed since the closing date.
Note: You don't need to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify, but you can't own another home at closing
when you are utilizing this program.
Find out if you’re eligible here.
Learn more here.
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
This program allows first-time homebuyers a tax credit of up to 20% of their annual mortgage interest.
You can also use this on its own or combine it with a DCHFA loan program.
Note: If you’re a veteran, you may not need to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify.
DC4Me
D.C. government employees can utilize this for a first trust mortgage at a
reduced interest rate. The rate comes with or without the option of three percent down payment
assistance with a zero percent deferred subordinate loan.
Note: You must be a first-time homebuyer and a government employee to qualify for this particular program.
Renting? Have you heard of DC’s Inclusionary Zoning Program?
(sometimes referred to as the DC Lottery)
Inclusionary zoning is a stipulation for new residential developments in Washington DC.
They are now required to have a certain number of apartments or condos, which are then deemed “affordable,”
where the rent or the selling price is lower than the market rate and only available to
people whose incomes fall below a certain level.
Note: Inclusionary zoning housing is not Section 8 Housing.
The main difference is that the government doesn’t pay portions of tenant rents for people in affordable units
while under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, DC’s Section 8 equivalent, it does.
For more information about The Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Inclusionary Zoning (IZ)
programs of the District of Columbia as well as courses to learn more, click here.
There are many additional programs that may
suit you and your needs as a homebuyer in Washington DC.
This is not a comprehensive list of programs, but rather an initial resource for your homebuying journey.
We highly recommend working alongside a local lender as an ultimate source of financial knowledge and resources
that will be able to properly guide you and cater their advice to your personalized opportunities.
