King County, WA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
King County buyers can apply to 6 local down payment programs, with help up to $150,000 through Covenant Homeownership Program, on top of Washington's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in King County
These are run by City of Seattle, Washington State, East King County (ARCH member cities), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downpayment Assistance Program City of Seattle (Seattle Office of Housing) · source | deferred second mortgage / forgivable loan | Up to $55,000 for open-market home purchases; up to $70,000-$90,000 per unit for resale-restricted homes built by a homeownership partner organization | Set by household size and area median income under Seattle Office of Housing homebuyer program rules | Yes | Inside Seattle city limits |
| Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance (DPA) Washington State (Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)) · source | deferred, 0% interest second mortgage | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first-mortgage loan amount | Household income must not exceed $215,000 (statewide program limit) | No | Statewide, including King County; |
| Home Advantage Needs-Based Downpayment Assistance Washington State (Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)) · source | deferred second mortgage, 1% simple interest | Up to $10,000 | Household income must not exceed $157,100 in King and Snohomish counties (needs assessment required except for veterans) | No | King and Snohomish counties (higher limit tier); |
| ARCH Downpayment Assistance Program East King County (ARCH member cities) (A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH), delivered through WSHFC-trained lenders) · source | deferred second mortgage, 4% simple interest | Up to $30,000 | Household size income limits range from $81,700 (1 person) to $154,000 (8 person); $116,650 for a 4-person household | No | Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Woodinville, and Yarrow Point |
| House Key Opportunity Downpayment Assistance Washington State (Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)) · source | deferred second mortgage, 1% simple interest | Up to $15,000 | King/Snohomish counties: $93,350 (1-2 person household) or $116,650 (3+ person household) | Yes | Statewide, King/Snohomish tier applies in King County; |
| Covenant Homeownership Program Washington State (Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)) · source | deferred second mortgage | Up to 20% of the home's cost, up to $150,000, plus closing costs | Not stated as an AMI percentage; | No | Statewide, including King County |
- Downpayment Assistance Program. First-time homebuyer defined as not having owned a home in the last 3 years.gov/housing before publishing to readers.
- Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance (DPA). No monthly payments; balance due on sale, refinance, or 30 years. Requires a free WSHFC homebuyer education class.
- Home Advantage Needs-Based Downpayment Assistance. Intended for homes under about $250,000; the standard Home Advantage DPA is recommended above that price.
- ARCH Downpayment Assistance Program. New-construction home price limit $660,000; existing-home price limit $646,000. Borrower must contribute 2% of purchase price (up to half can be gift funds). Requires WSHFC homebuyer education class plus a one-on-one pre-purchase counseling session.
- House Key Opportunity Downpayment Assistance. Needs assessment required except for veterans. Paired with the House Key Opportunity first mortgage.
- Covenant Homeownership Program. Created by the Covenant Homeownership Act of 2023. Serves people with pre-1968 Washington roots (self, parent, or grandparent) who are/were members of groups affected by historical housing-covenant discrimination.
Income limits in King County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Seattle-Bellevue, WA HUD Metro FMR Area (King County) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $164,400 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $131,520 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Washington statewide programs you can also use in King County
Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) - Here to Home (homebuyer programs page) runs 6 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Washington, with down payment help up to $150,000 through Covenant Homeownership Program. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance source | Deferred second loan | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first-mortgage loan amount | No | n/a | Household income must not exceed $215,000/year statewide |
| Home Advantage Needs-Based Downpayment Assistance source | Deferred second loan | Up to $10,000 | No | n/a | Up to $164,400 in King/Snohomish counties; $126,800 in all other counties |
| House Key Opportunity Downpayment Assistance source | Deferred second loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | n/a | By county and household size: King/Snohomish $93,350 (1-2 person)/$116,650 (3+); |
| Covenant Homeownership Program source | Deferred second loan | Up to 20% of the cost of the home, capped at $150,000, plus closing costs | Yes | n/a | At or below 120% Area Median Income, varying by county from $116,400 (most counties) up to $197,300 (King and Snohomish counties); |
| HomeChoice Downpayment Assistance source | Deferred second loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | n/a | Up to $164,400 in King/Snohomish counties; $126,800 in all other counties |
| Veterans Downpayment Assistance Program source | Deferred second loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | n/a | Up to $164,400 in King/Snohomish counties; $126,800 in all other counties |
Washington also offers a mortgage credit certificate (WSHFC Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)). MCC program page
King County closing costs that differ from the rest of Washington
Transfer tax: Washington's Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) is a graduated STATE tax (1.10% up to $525,000; 1.28% from $525,000.01-$1,525,000; 2.75% from $1,525,000.01-$3,025,000; 3.0% above $3,025,000, current through April 2026, adjusting again May 1, 2026 and Jan 1, 2027 per RCW 82.45.060), plus a LOCAL REET the city or county where the property sits imposes (Seattle imposes a 0.5% local REET, split into a 0.25% REET I and 0.25% REET II, on top of the graduated state rate; unincorporated King County and other cities set their own local REET up to the same statutory cap). The seller customarily pays REET. A $5 state technology fee applies to every transfer, plus a $5 affidavit fee if an exemption is claimed. Source
Recording the deed costs $304 and the mortgage $304. Fee schedule
Owner's title policy: seller (customary in King County)
King County Recorder's Office fee schedule confirms a $10 minimum for non-taxable excise affidavits and $5 plus the excise tax for taxable ones;
See Washington closing costs, title insurance and who pays →
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in King County, WA?
Downpayment Assistance Program (City of Seattle, up to $90,000); Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance (DPA) (Washington State, up to 5%); Home Advantage Needs-Based Downpayment Assistance (Washington State, up to $10,000); ARCH Downpayment Assistance Program (East King County (ARCH member cities), up to $30,000); House Key Opportunity Downpayment Assistance (Washington State, up to $15,000); Covenant Homeownership Program (Washington State, up to $150,000). Washington statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in King County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $131,520 for a four-person household in Seattle-Bellevue, WA HUD Metro FMR Area (King County) (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 King County?
Washington's Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) is a graduated STATE tax (1.10% up to $525,000; 1.28% from $525,000.01-$1,525,000; 2.75% from $1,525,000.01-$3,025,000; 3.0% above $3,025,000, current through April 2026, adjusting again May 1, 2026 and Jan 1, 2027 per RCW 82.45.060), plus a LOCAL REET the city or county where the property sits imposes (Seattle imposes a 0.5% local REET, split into a 0.25% REET I and 0.25% REET II, on top of the graduated state rate; unincorporated King County and other cities set their own local REET up to the same statutory cap). The seller customarily pays REET. A $5 state technology fee applies to every transfer, plus a $5 affidavit fee if an exemption is claimed.
Official sources
- City of Seattle: Downpayment Assistance Program
- Washington State: Home Advantage Downpayment Assistance (DPA)
- Washington State: Covenant Homeownership Program
- HUD income limits
- King County transfer tax
- King County recording fees
- King County Recorder's Office - Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)
King 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