Fairfax County, VA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Fairfax County buyers can apply to 2 local down payment programs, with help up to $50,000 through New Down Payment Loan Program for First-Time Homebuyers (2026), on top of Virginia's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Fairfax County
These are run by Fairfax County, separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Down Payment Loan Program for First-Time Homebuyers (2026) Limited funds Fairfax County (Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) / Department of Housing and Community Development) · source | down payment loan, funded by a Virginia Housing grant | Up to $50,000 toward down payment, first-mortgage principal reduction, closing costs, discount points, or PMI buy-out | At or below 80% of Area Median Income; | Yes | Fairfax County |
| First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Program / Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program Limited funds Fairfax County (Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA)) · source | below-market-price, deed-restricted homeownership unit lottery (not a cash down payment grant) | Not a loan amount; buyer purchases a below-market ADU/WDU home (current prices ranged roughly $95,000 to the low $200,000s per the program page) | 70% of AMI: 1-person $81,400; | Yes | Fairfax County (unit locations vary by development) |
- New Down Payment Loan Program for First-Time Homebuyers (2026). Status: open; funds limited, reviewed first-come, first-served Announced April 14, 2026. Must use a first mortgage through a pre-qualified Virginia Housing lender and live in the home as a primary residence for the duration of the down payment loan.
- First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Program / Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program. Status: open; ongoing orientation/application/lottery process Minimum credit score: 620 Since 1978. Household must not have owned a home in the last 3 years, must have at least $25,000 in annual income, pass a 2% down payment/closing-cost/savings requirement, and complete Virginia Housing homebuyer education.
Income limits in Fairfax County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $166,100 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $106,800 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Virginia statewide programs you can also use in Fairfax County
Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority) (homebuyer programs page) runs 6 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Virginia, with down payment help up to 5% of the price (about $23,120 on a median-priced home) through Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down Payment Assistance Grant source | Grant (no repayment) | See program page | No | n/a | Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page |
| Closing Cost Assistance Grant source | Grant (no repayment) | May be worth up to 2% of the home's purchase price | No | n/a | Varies; see Virginia Housing Income and Sales Price/Loan Limits page |
| Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage source | Second mortgage | Maximum 5% of the home's purchase price (can finance 1.5% more than the purchase price if qualified) | No | n/a | Virginia Housing's income limits apply; |
| Military and Veteran Programs - Granting Freedom Program source | Program | See program page | Check | n/a | See program page |
| VA-Guaranteed Loan (via Virginia Housing) source | First mortgage | See program page | No | n/a | See program page |
| Community Land Trust (CLT) financing source | Program | See program page | Check | n/a | See program page |
Fairfax County closing costs that differ from the rest of Virginia
Transfer tax: Virginia's grantor's tax (paid by the seller) is $0.50 per $500 of the sale price, rounded to the next highest $500 (equivalent to $0.10 per $100); this is split evenly between the Commonwealth and the locality. The state recordation tax on deeds is $0.25 per $100, rounded to the next highest $100 (generally paid by the buyer). Fairfax County, as a Northern Virginia jurisdiction, also imposes an additional local recordation tax (regional congestion-relief tax) of $0.0833 per $100, rounded to the next highest $100. Source
The Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk's land-records fee schedule (linked above) lists per-document clerk fees of $23 (1-10 pages), $37 (11-30 pages), or $57 (31+ pages) for general documents; these clerk fees are separate from the grantor's/recordation taxes above.
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Fairfax County, VA?
New Down Payment Loan Program for First-Time Homebuyers (2026) (Fairfax County, up to $50,000); First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Program / Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program (Fairfax County). Virginia statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Fairfax County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $106,800 for a four-person household in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Fairfax County?
Virginia's grantor's tax (paid by the seller) is $0.50 per $500 of the sale price, rounded to the next highest $500 (equivalent to $0.10 per $100); this is split evenly between the Commonwealth and the locality. The state recordation tax on deeds is $0.25 per $100, rounded to the next highest $100 (generally paid by the buyer). Fairfax County, as a Northern Virginia jurisdiction, also imposes an additional local recordation tax (regional congestion-relief tax) of $0.0833 per $100, rounded to the next highest $100.
What is the median home price in Fairfax County?
About $732,800, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Fairfax County, Virginia - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year). Down payment help of up to $50,000 covers roughly 7% of that price.
Official sources
- Fairfax County: New Down Payment Loan Program for First-Time Homebuyers (2026)
- Fairfax County: First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Program / Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program
- HUD income limits
- Fairfax County transfer tax
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Fairfax County, Virginia - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year)
Fairfax County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties