Every state has down payment or homeownership assistance programs; some states have both. The programs are designed to provide affordable housing opportunities to homebuyers who might not ordinarily be able to afford a house.
Each program can have their own income and eligibility requirements but primarily the programs are available for first-time homebuyers or low-income families.
Keep in mind if you had no ownership in a principal residence in the previous 3 years, you are also considered a first-time homebuyer even if you owned a home prior to that 3-year period.
The programs are not usually administered directly through the State. Instead, they are nonprofit based and handled through a third party agency. The list below will start you on your search but be sure to confirm the program is currently available.
(Source: HUD.gov)
Statewide and Regional Programs
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development's DHCD down payment assistance – combines downpayment and closing cost assistance with a mortgage for first-time homebuyers.
United States Department of Agriculture – homeownership subsidies and grants to income-eligible homebuyers. (804) 287-1598
VHDA Affordable Homeownership Programs
Is a VHDA “Mortgage Mobile” scheduled to visit your community?
Virginia Affiliates of Habitat for Humanity – work with other volunteers to build or renovate a home for yourself and your family.
Virginia Individual Development Account program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Roanoke Regional Loan Center
Community Housing Partners, Inc.
Christiansburg branch office (540) 382-3002
Richmond branch office (804) 278-9781
Virginia Beach branch office (757) 425-5826
Winchester branch office (540) 662-8960
Regional and Local Organizations
Hampton Roads Area
Center for Community Development
(757) 399-0925
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
(757) 420-8300
For Franklin, Isle of Wight, James City and York counties and cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg
Housing Partners Inc.
(757) 890-3300
Newport News Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(757) 928-2620
Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(757) 533-4622
Suffolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(757) 539-2100
Virginia Beach Department of Housing & Neighborhood Preservation
(757) 426-5750
Williamsburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(757) 220-3477
Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation
(757) 463-9516
James City County Office of Housing
(757) 258-5022
Chesapeake Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(757) 423-0401
Portsmouth Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(757) 399-5261
York County Office of Housing
(757) 890-3300
Southwest Virginia Area
Wise County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
(276) 395-6104
Wytheville Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Bristol Redevelopment & Housing Find-a-Way Program
Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprise
Serves Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Highland, Lee, Montgomery, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties.
People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia
Helping Overcome Poverty's Existence, Inc. (HOPE)
(276) 228-6280
Appalachia Service Project
(423) 854-8800
Project Crossroads
(276) 782-3339
Serves Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties
Middle Peninsula & Northern Neck Area
Scenario, Inc.
(804) 769-1492
For Essex, Gloucester, Goochland, King & Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, and Northumberland counties.
Eastern Shore
Accomack-Northampton Planning District Council
Virginia Eastern Shore Economic Empowerment and Housing Corporation
(757) 442-4509
Shenandoah Valley Area
Staunton Redevelopment and Housing Authority
(540) 886-3413
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
(540) 885-5174
For Augusta County and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro
Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(540) 434-7386
Waynesboro Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(540) 946-9230
Hope Community Builders
(540) 433-0152
Northern Shenandoah Valley
Sherwood Associates, Inc.
(703) 777-8322
Blue Ridge Housing Network
(540) 622-2711
For Clark, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah counties and city of Winchester
City of Winchester, Office of Housing & Neighborhood Development
(540) 535-2886
Northern Virginia Suburbs
Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Michelle Simmons, (703) 642-0700
Arlington Housing Corporation
City of Falls Church Office of Housing
(703) 248-5005
Loudoun County Office of Housing Services
(703) 777-0389
Prince William County Office of Housing
(703) 792-7531
Arlington County Housing Division
703/228-3760
Fairfax Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(703) 246-5105
Manassas Housing Trust Fund, Inc.
(540) 341-0280
Fredericksburg Area
Fauquier Housing Corporation
Central Virginia Housing Coalition
(540) 373-5372
For Caroline, King George, Rockingham, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties and the city of Fredericksburg
Petersburg Area
Petersburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(804) 733-2200
For Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex counties and the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, and Petersburg
Pathways
(804) 962-1104
Richmond Area
Virginia Supportive Housing
(804) 788-6825
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
(804) 644-0548
For Charles City, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan and the city of Richmond.
Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(804) 780-4200
Richmond.Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods, Inc.
Better Housing Coalition, Inc.
(804) 644-0546
NeighborWorks Resource Group Richmond
(804) 329-2500
Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation
(804) 231-4449
Serves Richmond metropolitan area
Elder Homes
(804) 233-2827
Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc. (H.O.M.E.)
(804) 354-0641
Roanoke Valley Area
Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(540) 983-9281
Total Action Against Poverty, Inc.
(540) 345-6781
Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organizations, Inc.
(540) 343-5674
Roanoke Department of Housing and Neighborhood Services
(540) 853-2344
Town of Blacksburg Housing & Community Development
(540) 951-4336
Lynchburg Area
Lynchburg Neighborhood Development Foundation
(434) 846-6964
For Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell and Lynchburg
Charlottesville Area
Piedmont Housing Alliance
(434) 817-2436
For Albemarle, Fluvanna, Green, Louisa and Nelson counties and Charlottesville
Albemarle County Office of Housing
(434) 296-5839
Albemarle Housing Improvement Program
(434) 817-2447
Fluvanna/Louisa Housing Foundation
(540) 967-3483
Nelson County Development Foundation
(434) 263-8074
CAAR Workforce Housing Fund
Danville Area
Telamon Corporation
(434) 656-8357
For Brunswick, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenberg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and cities of Danville and Martinsville
Danville Office of Housing and Community Development
Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority
(434) 793-1222
Martinsville Redevelopment and Housing Authority
(276) 403-5190
Pittsylvania Community Action, Inc.
(434) 432-8250
Southside Outreach Group
(434) 572-9556
Serve Charlotte, Halifax, Henry and Pittsylvania counties and Martinsville and South Boston.
Many communities support local home repair programs using money from HUD. Ask the contacts in your community if they support any home repair programs in your area.
Community Development Block Grant Contacts
HOME investment Partnership Contacts