First-time homebuyer loans and programs.
Compare the mortgage, down payment help, and buying budget before choosing a path.
There is no single first-time homebuyer loan.
Start with the first mortgage. Then check whether down payment help is available where you plan to buy.
FHA loans
A government-insured mortgage often compared by first-time and repeat buyers.
See fha loansConventional loans
A mortgage that follows conventional lending rules rather than a government loan program.
See conventional loansVA loans
A mortgage option for eligible service members, veterans, and qualifying spouses.
See va loansUSDA loans
A mortgage option with property, household, and location rules.
See usda loansDown payment assistance
Help that may reduce the cash needed up front when the borrower and mortgage both fit.
See down payment assistanceVirginia Housing programs
Virginia-specific first-time buyer and down payment help.
See virginia housing programsCheck what the monthly cost supports.
Loan names matter less if the payment and cash needed do not fit the budget.
Use the home affordability calculatorFirst-time homebuyer questions.
- Is there one first-time homebuyer loan?
- No. FHA, conventional, VA, and USDA are different mortgage options. First-time buyer programs and down payment help are separate and can have their own rules.
- What counts as a first-time homebuyer?
- The definition depends on the program. Some programs use an ownership lookback or other tests. The current program documents control.
- Can down payment assistance be used with a mortgage?
- Sometimes. The borrower, property, first mortgage, and assistance program all have to work together.
Start with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau homebuying resources. Current mortgage and assistance program documents control.
Compare the options against the full file.
Share the goal, timing, and location. Tareq or his team will explain what to check next.