Arlington County Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP)

At a glance

Amount

Up to 25% of the purchase price, capped at $112,500, as a deferred second trust

Type of help

Deferred loan

Where

Arlington County

Run by

Arlington County Housing Division, Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development

First-time buyer

First-time buyers only

Income limit

Yes, see below

Price limit

Yes, see below

Minimum credit score

660

Homebuyer education

Required

How the deferred loan works

A second loan with no interest and no payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.

• Interest: 0%
• Monthly payment: None
• When you would repay: Sale or refinance. You repay the original loan plus a proportionate share of the net appreciation, up to 25%, matching the share of the price the county funded.

Who qualifies

• First-time buyers only. No applicant or co-applicant may have held an ownership interest in any real estate in the last 3 years. Applications with mortgage co-signers are not considered.
• Income. Total gross household income, everyone in the home, at or below the county's 2026 MIPAP limits (about 80% of area median income): $93,040 for 1 person, $106,320 for 2, $119,600 for 3, $132,880 for 4, $144,520 for 5, $154,160 for 6. Arlington updates the table when HUD publishes new limits.
• Price. Maximum purchase price $500,000. The home must be in Arlington County.
• Property types: Single-family detached, Duplex, Townhouse, Condo. Must be your primary residence.
• Debt-to-income ratio no higher than 45%.
• At least 1% of the expected purchase price available for your down payment, plus reserves of at least 2 months of gross household income after closing.
• Full-time employment income for applicants (retirement or fixed government income is the exception). Legal presence in the U.S. for all applicants.
• First trust must come from a Virginia Housing approved lender. MIPAP sits behind a conventional first trust.
• You cannot be under contract when you apply. Arlington residents and workers get preference, but the program is open to the public.
• Every adult applicant completes Virginia Housing's homebuyer class and a Virginia Housing financial counseling session with a signed Spending Plan.

How to apply

1. 1Take Virginia Housing's free homebuyer education class and attend the Virginia Housing financial counseling session. Bring the class certificate and your counselor-signed Spending Plan.
2. 2Get a first-mortgage pre-approval letter and a Loan Estimate worksheet from a Virginia Housing approved lender.
3. 3Download the MIPAP Pre-Approval Application, complete it with all supporting documents, and email the Housing Division for access to the county's secure upload portal. Upload within 48 hours of receiving access.
4. 4Wait for the Loan Evaluation Committee decision, which can take up to 60 days. Pre-approval is good for 60 days with a possible 30-day extension, and comes with a required MIPAP briefing where you receive your pre-approval certificate and dollar amount.
5. 5Shop with your agent and lender for a home in Arlington under $500,000. Once you have a ratified contract, your lender sends it to the Housing Division with updated financials, the appraisal, and the inspection.
6. 6The county re-verifies everything, issues final approval, and works with your lender and title company to fund the second trust. Closing must be at least 30 days after the completed contract packet is received.

Watch out for

• The 25% is a ceiling, not a promise. The committee sets your amount from your finances and available funding, and pre-approvals are first come, first served.
• Shared appreciation means the county participates in your gains. On a home that rises from $450,000 to $550,000 with a 25% MIPAP loan, you would owe the original loan plus 25% of the $100,000 gain at sale or refinance.
• Plan for the calendar: up to 60 days for pre-approval, a 60-day shopping window, and at least 30 days from contract packet to closing. Sellers need to know your timeline.
• Applying while under contract disqualifies the application. Get pre-approved before you write an offer.
• Pre-approved buyers are added to the notification list for Arlington's for-sale Affordable Dwelling Units, which are resale-restricted homes priced below market and sold by lottery.

Straight answers

Sources

• Arlington County Moderate-Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP) page (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Arlington County MIPAP Pre-Approval Application (fillable PDF, 2026) (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Arlington County MIPAP Fact Sheet (2026) (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Arlington County MIPAP Pre-Approval Application (prior version with process steps) (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Arlington County Home Ownership programs overview (read Sep 23, 2026)

Program details are summarized from public sources and change without notice. Funding badges reflect the last time we checked, not a guarantee of availability. This is buyer education from a real estate agent, not a loan pre-approval or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is decided by each program administrator and your lender. Equal Housing Opportunity.