Office of Housing Down Payment Assistance

In an effort to help Seattle residents achieve their dreams of owning a home, the Office of Housing provides down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers through partnerships with local nonprofits and lending institutions.

Available Assistance
The Office of Housing Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $55,000 for down payment assistance for open market purchases or for unrestricted homes developed by a homeownership partner organization. The amount is higher for resale restricted homes, developed by homeownership partner organizations. Up to $70,000, for homes with fewer than 3 bedrooms or up to $90,000 per unit for homes with 3 or more bedrooms.

Eligibility Requirements
To be considered eligible for the Office of Housing Down Payment Assistance Program, applicants must be first-time homebuyers or not have owned a home in the last 3-years. Exceptions are made for displaced homemakers; adults who, during the past 3 years, owned interest in a home and worked primarily without remuneration to care for their home and family, and were displaced from their home. Applicants must earn less than 80% of area median income according to household size, and complete a pre-purchase homebuyer education program approved by the City of Seattle.

Property Guidelines
Any property purchased with funds from the program must serve as the applicants’ principal residence; investment properties are not permitted. Eligible property types include single-family houses, condominiums, limited equity cooperatives, cohousing, land trusts, and homes on leased land within Seattle City limits. The maximum purchase price through the down payment assistance program is $450,000.

Note: All information mentioned above was accurate at the time of publication and may no longer be current - visit the program website for updated information.