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PWhat is Home Advantage?
Home Advantage is a mortgage loan program offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission through participating lenders across the state. It offers a range of downpayment assistance options as well as competitive interest rates. Your lender will qualify you on a typical 30-year mortgage loan using our interest rate. To get started, contact one of our partner lenders or take a FREE homebuyer education class. You can learn more about Home Advantage here.
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PWhat kind of property can I finance with the Home Advantage loan?
You can use our Home Advantage home loans to purchase a one-unit single-family home, a townhome, a condominium, a manufactured home, or a two-unit (duplex) single-family home.
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PWhat is the income limit for the Home Advantage loan?
Household annual income must not exceed $180,000 (statewide).
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PHow can I get downpayment assistance?
Our downpayment assistance is only for homebuyers who use our home loan programs, either Home Advantage or House Key Opportunity. If your household income is under the program limits (up to $180,000) and you are otherwise qualified for a home loan, you are probably eligible. Connect with a Commission-trained lender today, or find a free homebuyer education class near you!
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PDo you have MCCs available for home purchase?
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PWho must attend the Homebuyer Education Class?
All borrowers who will be signing on both the Note and the Deed of Trust must attend the class. That means each person will need their own certificate of completion. Take a look at our Homebuyer Education class schedule.
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PDo Target Areas apply to Home Advantage?
No, Target Areas are only relevant to the House Key Opportunity program. See the Target Area map here.
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PDo your programs work with Habitat for Humanity and Community Land Trusts?
Yes, our home loans and downpayment assistance work with homes purchased through Habitat for Humanity or a Community Land Trust. The House Key Opportunity program offers special rates for borrowers who are purchasing a home through an approved affiliate member of Habitat for Humanity of Washington State or a home in a Community Land Trust, and who earn no more than 65% of area median income, based on household size and county in which they are buying. See the charts below to determine 65% of Area Median Income for the borrower.
65% AMI Chart – 2025
65% AMI Chart – 2024
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PHow do I get a payoff statement for a 2nd mortgage?
The Commission cannot provide payoff statements. Contact the borrower’s first-mortgage loan servicer directly for a payoff statement for both the first and the second mortgage loan, as they service both. Find the contact information for all our loan servicers here.
If you are still unable to receive a payoff from the servicer, please contact the Commission.
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PWhere can I get a copy of the Note?
Please contact the loan servicer of the first mortgage loan to obtain a copy of the mortgage Note.
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PHow do I get a copy of my MCC?
You may request either a digital copy or a certified printed copy of your MCC. Click here for instructions.
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PAre leasehold properties allowed with DPA?
Leasehold properties are acceptable with the exception of Manufactured Homes. Please follow agency underwriting guidelines.
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PWhat is your definition of first- time homebuyer for the House Key Program?
We define a first-time homebuyer as someone who has not owned AND occupied a primary residence at any time in the past three years. If you purchase a home in a Target Area or are an honorably discharged Veteran, you do not have to be a first-time homebuyer.
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PCan we use an inspection from a previous buyer in lieu of getting a new inspection?
If completed within the last six months, an inspection report given to the buyer from the seller or a previous buyer may be acceptable in lieu of a new inspection. The buyer must submit a written request to waive a new inspection. The buyer must state in the request that they reviewed the report, are satisfied with the condition of the property per the report, and hold the Commission harmless.
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PWhat kind of property can I finance with the House Key Opportunity loan?
You can use our House Key Opportunity home loans to purchase a one-unit single family home, town home, condominium, or a manufactured home.
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PWhat is a Target Area?
Target areas are census tracts that meet federal guidelines as economically distressed. Under the House Key Opportunity program, if you purchase a home in a target area, some restrictions and limits are eased. See Washington’s targeted areas on the map here.
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PWhat is the income limit for a House Key Opportunity loan?
House Key Opportunity income limits are set by county and household size, and also vary for those purchasing a home in a target area. Explore the income limits.
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PDo I need to be a first-time homebuyer for House Key Opportunity?
The House Key Opportunity program requires all borrowers to be first time buyers unless you are purchasing in a target area or are a Veteran with an honorable discharge. A first-time buyer is defined as someone who has not owned AND occupied a home as their primary residence in the last three years. You do not need to be a first-time homebuyer under the Home Advantage program.
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PHow do I get started as a homebuyer?
Your best first step is to take a free Homebuyer Education Class. The class is required to use our programs, and your certificate is valid for two years. Then connect with a Commission Trained Loan Officer to pre-qualify for a home and start looking for a home in your price range!
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PWhat is the Home Advantage Program?
Home Advantage is a loan program that offers downpayment assistance and competitive interest rates to families earning up to $180,000 a year. Your lender will qualify you on a typical 30-year mortgage loan using our interest rate. You can also get help with the downpayment and closing costs — between 3-5% of the mortgage loan amount.
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PWhat are the benefits of the Home Advantage program?
Home Advantage offers competitive rates as well as downpayment and closing-cost assistance, for a lower monthly mortgage payment.
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PI'd like to attend a homebuyer education class. Where can I sign up?
FREE in-person and virtual homebuyer education classes are offered almost every day in every part of the state by our partnering loan officers and real-estate professionals. Learn more and find a free class here.
You can also learn at your own pace with a $50 online self-study course from eHome America.
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PHow much downpayment do I need?
You don’t need to save up 10% before you can think about homeownership. Our downpayment assistance can fill the gap with no-cost and low-cost loans.
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PHow do I qualify for this program? Will you be making the loan to me directly?
Participating Lenders qualify, process, and underwrite your loan. The Commission does not make the loan directly to you. Just connect with a Commission-trained loan officer to get started!
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PCan the borrower own another home and still use DPA?
The Home Advantage DPA program allows a borrower to own another home at the time of closing per agency guidelines as long as: 1) it was not financed through the Commission, and 2) the borrower intends to occupy the new home.
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PWhen will funds for Home Advantage become available?
Funds for the Home Advantage program are continuously available and are subject to market rates and conditions. If you have questions about the Home Advantage Program, please call us at 800.767.4663 or email info@heretohome.org or Corinna.Obar@wshfc.org.
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PAre manufactured homes allowed for use with DPA?
Yes. Please follow agency guidelines for age and size.
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PYou have a lot of downpayment programs. How do I know which one is right for me?
Ask your lender or fill in this quick form with information about your location, household size and income. One of our Homeownership staff will reply with recommendations just for you.
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PDoes a downpayment assistance loan need to be paid back?
Yes. The interest rate is very low, from 0% to 4% depending on the program. It is wrapped into your main home mortgage, so you don’t have two bills to pay. Also, most of our downpayment loans are payment deferred” meaning no payment is due until the mortgage is paid off or until you sell, transfer, move out of or refinance the property.
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PHow much downpayment assistance can I get?
It varies by program, but $15,000 is the average amount for a typical homebuyer.
