Washington Down Payment Assistance Eligibility (2026)
Washington's core requirements are a 620 credit score, income under your program's limit, and a primary residence. The programs differ most on which city you buy in and which first mortgage you use. Here is what qualifies you.
Who qualifies for Washington down payment assistance
The core gates are credit, income, and occupancy. You need a minimum credit score of 620, income under the limit for your program, and a home you will live in as your primary residence, not an investment property. Homebuyer education is required. The assistance pairs with a WSHFC first mortgage, Home Advantage (more flexible) or House Key Opportunity (a bond program with tighter limits). Because the income limits vary by program and change, we confirm your current figures with WSHFC before you shop.
Local vs. statewide eligibility
This is the biggest fork in Washington. The large local programs, Clark County, Seattle, Pierce County, Bellingham, Tacoma, east King County, require buying within a specific boundary, and each has its own income limit. The statewide programs, Home Advantage DPA, Veterans, HomeChoice, do not depend on where you buy. So the first eligibility question is usually your address: if it falls inside a local program’s boundary, that is often the biggest money. We check it against the current WSHFC maps.
Washington income & acquisition-cost limits (2026)
Washington's limits are set per program, not as one statewide number. The flagship Home Advantage program uses a single statewide income limit of $215,000, effective September 15, 2025, well above the $180,000 many sites still quote. The bond-based House Key Opportunity program carries lower, county-based income limits, paired with acquisition-cost (purchase-price) limits that were also raised on September 15, 2025:
| House Key Opportunity area | Non-target area | Target area |
|---|---|---|
| King, Pierce, Snohomish counties | $725,000 | $775,000 |
| All other Washington counties | $500,000 | $550,000 |
Source: Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC), Home Advantage income limit and House Key Opportunity acquisition-cost limits, both effective September 15, 2025. House Key Opportunity income limits are set lower and by county, so we confirm your county's current figure before you shop. See the program overview for the full picture.
Common questions
What credit score do I need for Washington down payment assistance?
WSHFC requires a minimum credit score of 620 across its programs. You also need income under your program's limit and a home that will be your primary residence. Homebuyer education is required.
What are the 2026 Washington (WSHFC) income limits?
They vary by program. The flagship Home Advantage program uses a single statewide income limit of $215,000, effective September 15, 2025 (up from $180,000). The bond-based House Key Opportunity program carries lower, county-based income limits, and its acquisition-cost limit is $725,000 in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties ($775,000 in targeted areas) and $500,000 elsewhere ($550,000 targeted). We confirm your program's current figure with WSHFC before you shop.
Do I have to buy in a certain city for Washington down payment assistance?
For the large local programs, yes, Clark County, Seattle, Pierce County, Bellingham, Tacoma, and east King County each require buying within a specific boundary. The statewide programs (Home Advantage DPA, Veterans, HomeChoice) do not depend on where you buy.
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