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Learn more about Mortgage Relief Resources

Loans That Make Homeownership Affordable and Accessible

 

At Virginia Housing, we offer a variety of loans.

 

Why finding the right loan matters

We have a variety of loans for first-time homebuyers to help make owning a home more affordable. Finding the right loan is important for identifying your home options and planning your financial needs for the future. 

 

If you are a repeat homebuyer, we may have a loan option for you too — be sure to ask a lender. 

 

Get ready for homeownership

We want to help you be prepared as a future homeowner. Many of our loans require the completion of a free homebuying course.

 

Compare home loan options

Several kinds of loans can be combined with Virginia Housing grants to reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualified first-time homebuyers. View the table below to help you discover available options.

 

Download our Home Loan Options booklet.

Program Benefits Features
Closing Cost Assistance (CCA) Grant
  • Could eliminate funds needed for closing
  • No repayment required
  • Grant is a true gift
  • Can be paired with other non-Virginia Housing assistance
  • First-time buyer required


Down Payment Assistance Grant (DPA)
  • Reduces funds needed for a down payment
  • No repayment required 
  • Reduces monthly housing payment
  • 1% down payment
  • Grant is a true gift
  • Can be paired with other non-Virginia Housing down payment
  • First-time buyer required


Plus Second Mortgage
  • Eliminates funds needed for a down payment
  • Helps to keep total mortgage payment affordable
  • Could eliminate funds needed at closing
  • Increases homeownership for first-time and repeat buyers
  • Higher income limits assist buyers who don’t qualify for grant funds
  • 0% down payment
  • Second mortgage is a 30-year fixed rate
  • Qualified homebuyers can borrow 1.5% more than the sales price
  • Eligible for first-time buyers and repeat buyers
  • Virginia Housing standard income limits apply
FHA (Federal Housing Administration)
   Non-bond and bond
  • FHA insured
  • Low down payment
  • Liberal credit qualifying
  • Helps repeat buyers "move up" (non-bond only)
  • 3.5% downpayment
  • Credit scores as low as 620
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing's DPA Grant (bond only)
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing's Plus Second Mortgage


USDA (Rural Housing Service)
   Non-bond and bond
  • USDA guaranteed
  • $0 required for eligible rural properties
  • Lower monthly payments
  • Helps repeat buyers "move up" (non-bond only)
  • 100% financing
  • Credit scores as low as 620
  • Low mortgage insurance
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing's CCA grant (bond only)


VA (Veterans Administration)
   Non-bond and bond
  • VA guaranteed
  • $0 down payment required for eligible veterans
  • Liberal credit qualifying
  • Helps repeat buyers "move up" (non-bond only)
  • 100% financing
  • Credit scores as low as 620
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing's CCA grant (bond only)


Conventional
   Non-bond and bond
  • Low 3% down payment required
  • Affordable monthly payment
  • Helps repeat homebuyers “move up” (non-bond only)
  • 97% maximum financing
  • Lowest mortgage insurance requirements
  • Eligible for limited cash-out transactions (non-bond only)
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing’s DPA grant (bond only)
  • 640 minimum credit score
Conventional No Mortgage Insurance (No MI)
   Non-bond
  • Low 3% down payment required
  • Affordable monthly payment
  • Helps repeat buyers “move up” (non-bond only)
  • 97% maximum financing
  • No monthly mortgage insurance requirement
  • Eligible for Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage
  • Available for limited cash-out transactions
  • 660 minimum credit score


If the first-time homebuyer is required by the program, this requirement is waived if purchasing in an Area of Economic Opportunity.



Understanding income, loan limits and sales price

In order to help first-time homebuyers, we've set up our loans to meet the needs of those who need them most. So, limits on your income or sales price will be a part of your loan eligibility.

Learn more