Down payment assistance

Down payment assistance in District of Columbia

2 programs can help buyers in District of Columbia with a down payment and closing costs. Most are for first-time buyers with moderate incomes and are used with a participating lender.

Check which programs fit your situationDown payment assistance finder

DC Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

Open · Deferred loan (0%)

Up to $202,000, plus up to $4,000 for closing costs

Interest-free gap financing for buying a house, condo or co-op in the District, based on income, household size and need. Below 80% of median income there are no monthly payments; between 80% and 110%, payments are deferred for 5 years. Funds for each fiscal year are first come, first served.

Who qualifies: First-time homebuyers (no ownership in 3 years) with income up to 110% of median; District residents, or people who work in the District or have lived there; you contribute $500 or half of liquid assets above $3,000, whichever is more.

DC Department of Housing and Community Development · Agency website → · Checked 2026-09-30

DC Open Doors

Open · Deferred or forgivable loan

Up to 3% or 3.5% of the price

DC Housing Finance Agency’s home purchase loans with down payment and closing cost assistance, including for moderate-income buyers who earn too much for HPAP.

Who qualifies: Income limits; a DC Open Doors first mortgage through a participating lender; you don’t need to be a first-time buyer for some options.

DC Housing Finance Agency · Agency website → · Not yet confirmed by us: check the agency’s site for current amounts and rules.

How assistance usually works

Most programs are a second loan with no monthly payment that is forgiven over time or repaid when you sell or refinance, and some are grants. You usually need a program first mortgage from a participating lender, a homebuyer education course and income under the program’s limit. Apply before you make offers, so your pre-approval reflects the help.

More for District of Columbia

District of Columbia closing costs District of Columbia property taxes Where can I afford to buy in District of Columbia?Down payment timeline

Program amounts and rules change often. Confirm the details on each agency’s site before you rely on them.