Home Advantage DPA: Washington's Statewide Down Payment Assistance
The Home Advantage DPA gives Washington buyers up to 4% of the loan, 5% on conventional or FHA, as a deferred second. It is the everyday statewide option, available anywhere in the state, and it layers with the big local programs.
What the Home Advantage DPA is
The Home Advantage DPA is WSHFC’s workhorse, available to buyers anywhere in Washington who use a Home Advantage first mortgage. It gives you up to 4% of your loan amount (up to 5% on a conventional or FHA loan) toward the down payment and closing costs. There is no monthly payment, it is deferred until you sell, refinance, move out, or pay off the first loan. For a buyer whose barrier is the cash to close, it is the simplest path, and unlike the local programs, it does not depend on which city you buy in.
The needs-based $10,000 option
Alongside the percentage-based DPA, WSHFC offers a needs-based Home Advantage option of up to $10,000 for buyers under a tighter income limit (near $97,000) with a 620 credit score. For a lower-income buyer, the flat $10,000 can be worth more than the percentage option, and we compare the two for your numbers. Either way, the assistance is deferred, and it uses the same Home Advantage first mortgage. WSHFC’s own stated average across all its programs is about $10,000 for a typical buyer.
Stacking with the local programs
Here is where Washington gets powerful. The Home Advantage DPA layers with the big local programs, so a Seattle buyer can combine it with the city’s up-to-$55,000 program, a Clark County buyer with the up-to-$60,000 county program, a Pierce County buyer with up to $55,000. The statewide DPA becomes the base, and the local money stacks on top where the rules allow. See the full local menu on our local programs page.
Who qualifies
You need a minimum credit score of 620, a WSHFC Home Advantage first mortgage (conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA), and income under the program limit, which runs up to about $180,000 for the standard option and nearer $97,000 for the needs-based one. Homebuyer education is required. Because the limits change and vary by program, we confirm your current figures with WSHFC before you shop. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
What is the Home Advantage DPA in Washington?
The Home Advantage DPA is WSHFC's statewide down payment assistance: up to 4% of the loan (Home Advantage Gov't or Conventional) or up to 5% (conventional or FHA), as a deferred second mortgage. There is also a needs-based option up to $10,000. It requires a 620 credit score and a Home Advantage first mortgage.
Do I repay the Home Advantage DPA?
It is a payment-deferred second, so no payment is due until you sell, transfer, move out of, or refinance the home, or pay off the first mortgage. Interest is low, 0% to 4% depending on the option. Confirm the current terms with WSHFC.
Can I combine the Home Advantage DPA with a local Washington program?
Yes, in many cases. The statewide Home Advantage DPA layers with the big local programs, Seattle (up to $55,000), Clark County (up to $60,000), Pierce County (up to $55,000), and others, where the rules allow. We map the strongest legal stack for your city and income.
What credit score do I need for the Home Advantage DPA?
A minimum credit score of 620. Income limits run up to about $180,000 for the standard option and nearer $97,000 for the needs-based $10,000 option. Homebuyer education is required. Confirm your program's current limit with WSHFC.
See your Home Advantage options
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Washington path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.