Down payment assistanceVirginia
Fairfax County Down Payment Loan
Up to $50,000 as a deferred second trust with shared equity, paired with a Virginia Housing first mortgage
No monthly payment. The loan sits behind your Virginia Housing first mortgage and behind any other assistance. When you pay it off, you repay the amount borrowed plus a share of the home's net appreciation equal to the loan's share of your purchase price. Example from the county: a $50,000 loan on a $400,000 home is 12.5%, so on a resale at $500,000 you would repay $50,000 plus 12.5% of the $100,000 gain, or $62,500 total. Rate-and-term refinances of the first mortgage are allowed; cash-out refinances are not.
Money is still available but going fast. Apply soon.
Pilot launched April 2026. Applications stop once the funds are reserved.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Program terms change; confirm with the administrator before you rely on them.
At a glance
- Amount
- Up to $50,000 as a deferred second trust with shared equity, paired with a Virginia Housing first mortgage
- Type of help
- Deferred loan
- Where
- Fairfax County
- Run by
- Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development
- First-time buyer
- First-time buyers only
- Income limit
- Yes, see below
- Price limit
- Yes, see below
- 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.
- Monthly payment: None
- When you would repay: Payoff of the loan, which happens when you sell, refinance the county loan out, or otherwise end it. You repay the principal plus the county's equity share of any net appreciation.
Who qualifies
- First-time buyers only. You and every member of your household must have had no ownership interest in a home in the last 3 years.
- Income. Household income at or below 80% of area median income by household size, 2026 limits: $91,750 for 1 person, $104,900 for 2, $118,000 for 3, $131,100 for 4, $141,600 for 5, $152,100 for 6, $162,550 for 7, $173,050 for 8. Income of every adult in the household counts.
- Price. No separate county price cap. You must qualify for a Virginia Housing first mortgage, so Virginia Housing's limits apply ($800,000 sales price and loan limit for bond loans in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area as of 2026-08-01). The home must be in Fairfax County and cannot be a county ADU or WDU.
- You must use a Virginia Housing first mortgage from a Virginia Housing approved lender, and the lender submits everything. The county does not accept applications from buyers directly.
- You cannot be under contract when you apply.
- Complete Virginia Housing's homebuyer orientation (in person or self-guided online) and meet one-on-one with a HUD-certified housing counselor before closing.
- Live in the home as your primary residence for the life of the loan.
- Funds can reduce the first mortgage principal, pay closing costs, pay points to lower the rate, or buy out private mortgage insurance. Your lender helps pick the best use.
- The loan takes last lien position and can be layered with other loans and grants.
| Area | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people | 8 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | $91,750 | $104,900 | $118,000 | $131,100 | $141,600 | $152,100 | $162,550 | $173,050 |
How to apply
- 1Attend Virginia Housing's homebuyer orientation and plan a one-on-one session with a HUD-certified housing counselor; both certificates are needed before final approval.
- 2Choose a Virginia Housing approved lender and tell them you want the Fairfax County Down Payment Loan. Your lender submits the county application, consent form, loan application, credit report, pay stubs, bank statements, and tax documents to FCDPL@fairfaxcounty.gov.
- 3HCD reviews the package first come, first served and issues a Preliminary Loan Commitment good for 4 months, extended 2 months automatically once you have a ratified contract.
- 4Shop for a home in Fairfax County (not an ADU or WDU) with a conventional Virginia Housing first trust. Once you have a ratified contract, your lender submits the final package.
- 5HCD issues a Final Loan Commitment and coordinates with your lender and title company. Closing must be at least 30 days after the complete final package is submitted.
Watch out for
- This is a pilot with limited funds. Applications are first come, first served, and the county stops accepting them once funds are reserved. Confirm availability with your lender before counting on it.
- Shared equity means the county gets a share of your appreciation at payoff. Understand the percentage before you close.
- Cash-out refinances of the first mortgage are not allowed while the county loan is in place. Rate-and-term refinances are, subject to the deed of trust.
- You must go through a Virginia Housing lender. If you want a non-Virginia Housing loan, this program is not available.
- It cannot be used to buy a Fairfax County Affordable Dwelling Unit or Workforce Dwelling Unit.
New in 2026 and worth a call to a Virginia Housing lender if you are under 80% of AMI and buying a market-rate home in Fairfax County. Pair it with the Virginia Housing DPA Grant and the math gets interesting.
Straight answers
Do I make payments on the Fairfax County Down Payment Loan?
No. There are no monthly payments. You repay the principal plus the county's equity share when you pay the loan off, usually at sale. You can pay it off at any time.
How is the equity share calculated?
The county's share equals the loan as a percentage of your original purchase price. A $50,000 loan on a $400,000 home is 12.5%, so the county receives 12.5% of the net appreciation when you pay off the loan, plus the $50,000.
Can I use it with the Virginia Housing DPA Grant?
The county says the loan can be layered with other loans and grants and takes last position. Virginia Housing allows its DPA Grant to be combined with other non-Virginia Housing assistance when the first mortgage permits it, so ask your lender to structure both.
Sources
- Fairfax County Down Payment Loan page (2026 income limits, equity share example) (read Sep 23, 2026)
- Fairfax County Down Payment Loan Application Package (Version 4.14.26) (read Sep 23, 2026)
- FCRHA news: New Program to Boost Buying Power of First-Time Homebuyers (up to $50,000) (read Sep 23, 2026)
- Virginia Housing Find a Lender (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.
Programs are the easy part. Timing is the hard part.
Most buyers lose assistance on a deadline, not on eligibility. Sean helps you map out the counseling, the lender conversation, and the contract dates so nothing slips.