Virginia Housing Down Payment Assistance: Grants & the Plus Second
Virginia Housing gives buyers two very different kinds of help: grants you never repay, and a larger second mortgage you do. Here is the full picture, plus the reduced-mortgage-insurance loans behind them.
The grants: money you never repay
Virginia Housing’s grants are the headline. The Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Grant puts money toward your down payment, and the Closing Cost Assistance (CCA) Grant, available with FHA, VA, and USDA loans, puts money toward your closing costs. Both are true grants: there is no second loan, no monthly payment, and nothing to pay back. For a first-time buyer, that is as clean as assistance gets. The amounts are a percentage of the sales price and are published on the Virginia Housing site, confirm the current figure before you plan around it.
The Plus Second Mortgage: larger, but repayable
When you need more than a grant provides, Virginia Housing offers the Plus Second Mortgage. It is a second loan that covers down payment and closing costs, and it is larger than the grant, but unlike the grant, you repay it. It requires no separate mortgage insurance or title insurance, which keeps costs down. The trade-off is straightforward: more help now, in exchange for a balance you pay back over time. Compare the two on our grant vs. Plus Second page.
The loans behind the assistance
The grant or second always rides on a Virginia Housing first mortgage. Virginia Housing is known for its conventional loans with reduced or no mortgage insurance, which can lower a buyer’s monthly cost compared with a standard conventional loan, and it also offers FHA, VA, and USDA. A 620 credit score qualifies. Loans come in bond and non-bond versions, which matters for first-time status and income limits, see the eligibility page.
Who qualifies
You need a 620 credit score, income under Virginia Housing’s limit for your locality, and a primary-residence home. The bond first mortgages are for first-time buyers (waived in some areas and for veterans), while the non-bond programs can serve repeat buyers. Grant programs carry lower income limits than the loan programs. Because the limits vary by locality and change, we check your specific figures at Virginia Housing before you shop.
Verified August 2026 against Virginia Housing origination materials. Grant and Plus Second amounts and income limits are volatile, confirm current figures at virginiahousing.com. This is not a commitment to lend; rates are posted on the operator’s site. Related: The DPA & CCA Grants.
Common questions
What down payment assistance does Virginia Housing offer?
Virginia Housing offers a DPA Grant (toward the down payment) and a CCA Grant (toward closing costs on FHA, VA, and USDA loans), both true grants you never repay, plus a larger, repayable Plus Second Mortgage. All pair with a Virginia Housing first mortgage and require a 620 credit score.
Is Virginia Housing assistance a grant or a loan?
Both are available. The DPA Grant and CCA Grant are true grants you never repay. The Plus Second Mortgage is a larger second loan that you do repay. You choose the one, or the combination, that fits your purchase.
What credit score do I need for Virginia Housing?
A 620 minimum credit score. First mortgages include reduced- or no-mortgage-insurance conventional loans, plus FHA, VA, and USDA. Income and price limits are set by locality.
See which Virginia option fits you
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Virginia path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.