Down payment assistanceVirginia
Fairfax County First-Time Homebuyers Program (Affordable Dwelling Unit and Workforce Dwelling Unit Homes)
Below-market townhomes and condos, recently $95,000 to the low $200,000s, sold to income-qualified first-time buyers by drawing
This is not a loan or grant. The county sells Affordable Dwelling Units at prices far below market to buyers at or below 70% of area median income. You get a regular mortgage from a lender you choose. In exchange, covenants control who can live in the home, how it can be refinanced, and the resale price for the first 30 years. After 30 years you can set your own price, but the county still gets the first right to buy. New ADUs include a 3% developer contribution toward closing costs.
Funding was available the last time we checked.
Homes are offered by drawing as they become available.
Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Program terms change; confirm with the administrator before you rely on them.
At a glance
- Amount
- Below-market townhomes and condos, recently $95,000 to the low $200,000s, sold to income-qualified first-time buyers by drawing
- Type of help
- Other help
- Where
- Fairfax County, City of Fairfax
- Run by
- Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
- First-time buyer
- First-time buyers only
- Income limit
- Yes, see below
- Price limit
- Yes, see below
- Minimum credit score
- 620
- Homebuyer education
- Required
How the other help works
A special purchase path, discount, or loan type that lowers what you need at closing.
- Monthly payment: Yes
Who qualifies
- First-time buyers only. No one in the household may have owned a home in the last 3 years.
- Income. Household income at least $25,000 and no more than 70% of area median income by household size, as posted on the county page 2026-09-23: $81,400 for 1 person, $93,000 for 2, $104,600 for 3, $116,250 for 4, $125,550 for 5, $134,850 for 6, $144,150 for 7, $153,450 for 8. The county's separate Workforce Dwelling Unit program serves 70% to 120% of AMI (up to $199,300 for 4 people).
- Price. Prices are set by the county for each unit. Recent First-Time Homebuyers Program homes ranged from $95,000 to the low $200,000s; Workforce Dwelling Units run from about $200,000 to the high $400,000s.
- Property types: Townhouse, Condo. Must be your primary residence.
- You must be able to pay a 2% down payment and your closing costs, and have at least one month of housing expenses saved.
- Pre-approval must be on the county's own FCRHA form from a lender of your choice. A letter on lender letterhead is not accepted, and the letter states the maximum price you qualify for.
- Every applicant attends the FTHB Program orientation (live or recorded) and completes Virginia Housing's free homebuyer education course.
- Units are awarded by a weighted random drawing among applicants whose household size and pre-approval fit the unit. Income and eligibility are re-verified before contract.
- The Fairfax County Down Payment Loan cannot be used to buy an ADU or WDU.
- The county also administers affordable dwelling units for the City of Fairfax, so City residents use this same program.
| Area | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7 people | 8 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | $81,400 | $93,000 | $104,600 | $116,250 | $125,550 | $134,850 | $144,150 | $153,450 |
How to apply
- 1Attend or watch the recorded First-Time Homebuyers Program orientation. You leave with the county's pre-approval form and the application packet.
- 2Complete Virginia Housing's free homebuyer education course and keep the certificate.
- 3Get a lender pre-approval on the FCRHA form showing the maximum price you qualify for. It is good for one year, but must be refreshed if it is more than 60 days old when you win a drawing.
- 4Submit the application packet by mail, drop box, or secure fax. Once approved you attend an information session and receive your program passport and Certificate of Eligibility.
- 5Watch the county's homes-for-sale listings. Each listing is open about two weeks; apply for the drawing on any unit that fits your household size and price.
- 6If you rank high enough in the drawing, the county re-verifies income and eligibility, you sign a contract, and you have at least 30 days to close with your lender and settlement company.
Watch out for
- Resale is controlled for 30 years. The covenants set your resale price and require you to offer the home to the county first. This is a place to live, not an investment to flip.
- Occupancy is certified every year. You cannot rent the unit out.
- Inventory is thin and drawings are competitive. Expect to enter several drawings before you win one.
- The 30-year control also limits refinancing. Cash-out refinances that exceed the controlled value are not allowed.
- If your income is over 70% of AMI, ask about the Workforce Dwelling Unit Homebuyer Program instead. Same process, higher limits, higher prices.
For a buyer under 70% of AMI who plans to stay put, an ADU can mean a payment lower than rent. Go in with clear eyes about the resale controls and take the orientation before anything else.
Straight answers
Is this down payment assistance?
No. The county sells homes at below-market prices to qualified first-time buyers. You bring a 2% down payment, your closing costs, and a regular mortgage. For a down payment loan, see the separate Fairfax County Down Payment Loan, which cannot be used on these units.
How does the drawing work?
After a listing closes, the county screens applicants for household size and pre-approval amount, then runs a weighted random selection. The top-ranked buyer gets the first chance to buy, then the next, and so on. Everyone on the list is told their rank.
What happens when I sell?
During the first 30 years the covenants set the resale price and the county has first right of refusal. After 30 years you set the price, but the home must still be offered to the county first.
Sources
- Fairfax County First-Time Homebuyers Program page (income table, requirements, steps) (read Sep 23, 2026)
- Fairfax County First-Time Homebuyers Program Overview and Lender Standards (PDF) (read Sep 23, 2026)
- Fairfax County Workforce Dwelling Unit Homebuyer Program page (read Sep 23, 2026)
- Fairfax County Homebuyer Programs overview (read Sep 23, 2026)
- City of Fairfax Housing and Homelessness page (county administers City ADUs) (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 lines up the counseling, the lender, and the contract dates so the money shows up at closing.