Increase your buying power in the District of Columbia
10 homebuyer assistance programs in the District of Columbia put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 10 programs tell us about buying in the District of Columbia
One of the biggest awards we track
HPAP offers up to $202,000 as a 0% loan, one of the largest single down payment programs in the country.
Working for the District pays
4 programs serve DC government employees, first responders and educators, including EAHP (up to $25,000) and NEAHP (up to $26,500).
Lenders add nearly three options for every local one
28 multi-state programs from banks, credit unions and FHLBank Atlanta are open to DC buyers, against 10 District programs.
How the help arrives · 10 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
2 more pay a percentage of the price or loan, which scales with the home you buy. Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
9 programs are available statewide. 1 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 10 District of Columbia programs and 28 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in the District of Columbia
A few of the 10 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)
DC Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentDown payment and closing cost help sized to household size, income and need, for income-eligible DC buyers.
Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP)
DC Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFor DC government employees: a $20,000 0% loan plus up to $5,000 in matching grants on your savings. No income cap.
Negotiated Employee Affordable Home Purchase Program (NEAHP)
DHCD with OLRCB and the Greater Washington Urban LeagueFor District employees in eligible collective bargaining units; the award grows with years of service.
DC Open Doors
DC Housing Finance AgencyCovers your full minimum down payment, for households up to 170% of area median income.
DC4ME
DC Housing Finance AgencyFor DC government employees: a reduced first mortgage rate plus an optional 0% down payment loan.
Housing Justice Grants
birdSEEDGrants of $5,000 to $15,000 awarded several times a year until funds run out. No sales price limit.
28 multi-state programs also serve the District of Columbia
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
These are 4 of the 28 multi-state programs open to District of Columbia buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in the District of Columbia
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every District of Columbia program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
District of Columbia homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in the District of Columbia?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 5 District of Columbia programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $25,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
4 of the 10 active programs (40%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 3 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. Many District of Columbia programs are open to repeat buyers, and most first-time rules count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 4 programs we track in the District of Columbia are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. The District of Columbia has 9 programs available statewide and 1 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in the District of Columbia, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.