Virginia Housing DPA Grant
A true grant.
Never repaid.
A down payment grant that never gets repaid, carries no lien, and gets first-time NoVA buyers into the market sooner. Here is the eligibility path, nine steps, so you always know what's next.
Am I eligible?
Confirm first-time buyer status (three-year rule, targeted-area exception), household income against the lower NoVA bond limit, and Virginia property type.
Income confirmed
Verify ALL household member incomes against the NoVA bond limit - every adult in the home counts, not just the borrowers.
VH-approved lender
Only Virginia Housing approved lenders can originate bond firsts with the grant - confirm your lender is on the approved list before committing.
Homebuyer education
Complete the approved Virginia Housing education course early - it is required before closing, and doing it before house hunting removes a constraint.
House hunt
Shop within the NoVA price cap; keep the property type within Virginia Housing guidelines (Virginia property, primary residence, max 2 acres).
Grant reserved at lock
Grant funds are reserved when your rate locks - confirm availability with your lender at lock; the grant expires if the lock expires without closing.
Underwriting
Bond first underwriting is thorough - provide documents promptly and confirm your gift letter is ready if using gifted funds.
Clear to close
Final review; the grant is confirmed and applied to your down payment at closing - you bring approximately 1% plus closing costs from your own or gifted funds.
Closing day
You close with the grant applied to your down payment - it is never repaid, there is no lien, and you own the home with real equity from day one.
Program-level facts, per Virginia Housing - not a guarantee or an offer of assistance.
True grant
Never repaid, no lien, no forgiveness period to track.
Applies to
Down payment only - not closing costs or fees.
Reservation
Funds reserved at rate lock - timing matters.
Combine rule
Cannot stack with the Plus Second or CCA grant.
See your personalized numbers - free
Scan the code or reach out. We confirm your household income eligibility, verify first-time buyer status, and run both FHA Bond and Conventional Bond paths using your real price and profile - no obligation.