Everett & Snohomish County Down Payment Assistance (WSHFC)
Snohomish County gives buyers a slightly more reachable alternative to King County while staying close to Seattle jobs, and WSHFC's statewide programs travel well here. Here is how Everett-area buyers use them.
How down payment assistance works in Snohomish County
Snohomish County sits just north of King County, close enough for Seattle and Everett jobs but with prices that give buyers a bit more room. WSHFC’s statewide programs anchor the help here: the Home Advantage DPA gives up to 4% of the loan (5% on conventional or FHA), and the needs-based option adds up to $10,000. The Veterans program (up to $10,000) and HomeChoice for buyers with a disability (up to $15,000) add targeted paths. A 620 minimum credit score is required, and we confirm your income limit with WSHFC.
Buying across Snohomish County
Everett anchors the county with the most entry-level inventory, from the neighborhoods near the waterfront and Boeing to the south-Everett and Silver Lake areas. Marysville, Lake Stevens, and Arlington to the north give newer, more affordable homes, while Lynnwood and Mill Creek to the south run closer to King County prices. Because the statewide programs cover the whole county, the deciding factors are usually income and credit, which we walk through with you.
The HomeChoice option for disability
One WSHFC program worth knowing about here and statewide: HomeChoice offers up to $15,000 in down payment assistance for a buyer with a disability, or one who has a disabled family member living with them. It is a distinctive, often-overlooked program, and it layers with the Home Advantage first mortgage. If it might apply to your household, it is worth checking. See the full menu on our programs page.
WSHFC sets income limits by program (some up to about $180,000, the needs-based option nearer $97,000), and the local programs have their own city or county boundaries and funding cycles. Confirm your program, boundary, and current amount on the WSHFC site before relying on one number. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
What down payment assistance is available in Snohomish County?
Everett and Snohomish County buyers use WSHFC's statewide programs: the Home Advantage DPA (up to 4% of the loan, 5% on conventional or FHA), the needs-based option (up to $10,000), the Veterans program (up to $10,000), and HomeChoice for buyers with a disability (up to $15,000). A 620 minimum credit score is required (income, occupancy, and the local boundary also apply).
Is Snohomish County more affordable than King County?
Generally yes. Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville, Lake Stevens, tends to run below King County prices while staying close to Seattle and Everett jobs, which lets WSHFC's statewide assistance cover a larger share of the cash to close. We check your target area against the current income limits.
What is the WSHFC HomeChoice program?
HomeChoice offers up to $15,000 in down payment assistance for a buyer who has a disability, or who has a disabled family member living with them. It is a deferred second that layers with a WSHFC Home Advantage first mortgage. Confirm current terms and eligibility with WSHFC.
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