First-Time Home Buyer Programs: Your Guide to Buying a Home in Washington State

January 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment

first time homebuyer programs in washington state First-Time Home Buyer Programs: Your Guide to Buying a Home in Washington State

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming—especially in a competitive market like Washington State. Between rising home prices, headlines about interest rates, and confusing mortgage terms, many first-time buyers wonder: Is homeownership even possible right now?

The good news? There are several first-time home buyer programs designed to make buying a home more accessible and affordable—often with low down payments, flexible credit guidelines, and even down payment assistance.

As a mortgage advisor with over 25 years of experience helping first-time buyers, I’m here to break down the most common programs, how they work, and how to decide which one may be right for you. [Read more…]

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2026 Conforming Loan Limits: What Washington Homebuyers Should Know

December 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment

2026 Conforming Loan Limits for Washington HomesLow-Down-Payment Programs, Renovation Loans & Down Payment Assistance Options

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The REAL Income Needed to Buy Median-Priced Home in Seattle

February 26, 2019 by Leave a Comment

How Much Income Do You Need to Buy a Home in Seattle

KOMO News is reporting that it takes an income of $105K to buy a median-priced home in the Seattle area. This is based off a report from HSH.com.  When you dig deeper into the report, here’s how HSH.com came up with their numbers: [Read more…]

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FHA vs Conventional Low Down Payment Mortgages for Home Buyers

May 23, 2017 by Leave a Comment

It is a very competitive market for home buyers in the greater Seattle area. I’m finding that many of my clients who are using FHA for financing are not feeling the love from home sellers. It’s not unusual for home sellers, or more likely their Listing Agent, to steer away from FHA offers when a conventional offer is in hand. [Read more…]

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Burien Home Buyer Class on May 10, 2014

April 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Seattle Home Buyer ClassesThe next home buyer education class that I’m teaching is coming up on Saturday, May 10th, 2014 at the Burien Library. Ira Sacharoff, Real Estate Broker with Better Properties Real Estate is my fellow instructor.

The class is sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Students who attend are eligible for programs like Home Advantage, House Key (state bond) or Home Possible as well as various down payment assistance programs and MCC (mortgage credit certificates) tax credits.If you are considering buying a home with your spouse, partner or friend, they need to attend the class too in order to qualify for programs. You do not need to be a first time home buyer to qualify for many of these programs. And you’re welcome to attend if you’re just interested in learning more about the process.

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WSHFC now offers reduced mortgage rates with no DPA

March 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment

2013-03-07_0746The Washington State Housing Finance Commission offers several mortgage programs with various types of down payment assistance for home buyers. In order to qualify for the program, home buyers need to have household income of $97,000 or lower and attend a WSHFC sponsored home buyers class.

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Freddie Mac Home Possible® Mortgage in Washington State

August 30, 2013 by 17 Comments

Freddie Mac HomePossible Mortgage WA StateFreddie Mac Home Possible® Mortgage in Washington State

The Home Possible® mortgage is a low-down-payment conventional loan program designed to help buyers achieve homeownership with more flexibility and lower upfront costs.

Backed by Freddie Mac, Home Possible allows qualified homebuyers in Washington State to purchase a primary residence with as little as 3% down, while offering reduced mortgage insurance and competitive interest rates.

This program is especially popular with first-time homebuyers in higher-cost areas like Seattle, King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County, where saving for a large down payment can be challenging.

Update: This article reflects current Home Possible mortgage guidelines for 2026. Program details, income limits, and loan limits are subject to change and should always be verified.

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