Seattle Down Payment Assistance (up to $55,000)
Seattle is one of the most expensive markets in the country, and Washington answers with one of the largest local down payment programs anywhere: up to $55,000 for buyers inside the city. Here is how Seattle and King County buyers use WSHFC.
How down payment assistance works in Seattle
Seattle prices put a normal down payment out of reach for most first buyers, so the size of the local help matters. Through WSHFC, buyers inside the Seattle city limits can access up to $55,000 in down payment assistance, a deferred second you do not pay on until you sell, transfer, move out, refinance, or pay off the first. On top of that, the statewide Home Advantage DPA adds up to 4% (5% on conventional or FHA) of the loan. East of the city, ARCH serves east King County cities with up to $30,000. We map which of these you qualify for and stack them where the rules allow.
Buying across King County
King County is really two markets. Inside Seattle, condos and townhomes in neighborhoods like Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, and Northgate are where the $55,000 program does the most work. To the east and south, the ARCH cities, Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue-adjacent areas, Issaquah, use the up-to-$30,000 east King County program. South King County, Kent, Renton, and Federal Way, leans on the statewide Home Advantage DPA. Each program has its own boundary and income limit, which we check against your exact address.
Stacking the local and statewide help
The reason to work with a lender who knows WSHFC cold is the stacking. A Seattle buyer might combine the local $55,000 program with the statewide Home Advantage DPA and, if they served, the Veterans option, turning a hopeless down payment into a reachable one. The rules on what combines are specific, and the income limits differ by program. We sort out the strongest legal stack for your situation. See the full menu on our local 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
How much down payment assistance can I get in Seattle?
Buyers inside the Seattle city limits can access up to $55,000 in down payment assistance through WSHFC, a deferred second mortgage. On top of that, the statewide Home Advantage DPA adds up to 4% of the loan (5% on conventional or FHA). East King County (ARCH) offers a separate program up to $30,000.
Do I have to repay Seattle down payment assistance?
WSHFC down payment loans are payment-deferred, so no payment is due until you sell, transfer, move out of, or refinance the home, or pay off the first mortgage. The interest is low, 0% to 4% depending on the program. Confirm your program's exact terms with WSHFC.
What credit score do I need for down payment help in Seattle?
WSHFC requires a minimum credit score of 620. Income limits vary by program, some allow household income up to about $180,000, while the needs-based option is nearer $97,000. Confirm your program's current limit with WSHFC.
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