First-time buyers in Virginia can pair a standard mortgage with programs offered by the state housing finance agency and, in some areas, by local governments or nonprofits. These programs may include down payment or closing cost assistance and homebuyer education, with rules on income, price and occupancy. Choose your city below to learn about the first-purchase process and connect with a licensed lender who can explain which programs you may be eligible for.
Call to talk with a licensed loan officer. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Virginia's state housing finance agency is Virginia Housing. Its homebuyer programs include Conventional first mortgage (bond and non-bond), FHA first mortgage (bond and non-bond), VA first mortgage (bond and non-bond). These programs work through participating lenders and have their own eligibility rules. See our Virginia first-time buyer programs guide.
Where first-time home buyer loans activity is highest in Virginia
| County | loans originated (2024 HMDA) |
|---|---|
| Fairfax County | 10,573 |
| Loudoun County | 5,419 |
| Chesterfield County | 5,359 |
| Prince William County | 5,265 |
| the City of Virginia Beach | 5,014 |
| Henrico County | 3,813 |
| the City of Chesapeake | 3,382 |
| the City of Norfolk | 2,828 |
| the City of Richmond | 2,198 |
| Stafford County | 2,147 |
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Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 912-6746. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
First-Time Home Buyer Loans by city in Virginia
- Abingdon
- Alexandria
- Annandale
- Aquia Harbour
- Arlington
- Ashburn
- Ashland
- Bailey's Crossroads
- Bedford
- Belle Haven
- Bellwood
- Belmont
- Bensley
- Big Stone Gap
- Blacksburg
- Bon Air
- Brambleton
- Brandermill
- Bridgewater
- Bristol
- Broadlands
- Broadway
- Buckhall
- Buena Vista
- Bull Run
- Burke
- Burke Centre
- Carrollton
- Cascades
- Cave Spring
- Centreville
- Chamberlayne
- Chantilly
- Charlottesville
- Cherry Hill
- Chesapeake
- Chester
- Christiansburg
- Collinsville
- Colonial Heights
- Countryside
- Covington
- Crosspointe
- Crozet
- Culpeper
- Dale City
- Danville
- Dranesville
- Dulles Town Center
- Dumbarton
- Dumfries
- Dunn Loring
- East Highland Park
- Emporia
- Ettrick
- Fair Lakes
- Fair Oaks
- Fairfax
- Fairfax Station
- Falls Church
- Farmville
- Fishersville
- Floris
- Forest
- Fort Belvoir
- Fort Hunt
- Fort Lee
- Franconia
- Franklin
- Franklin Farm
- Fredericksburg
- Front Royal
- Gainesville
- Galax
- George Mason
- Glen Allen
- Gloucester Point
- Great Falls
- Greenbriar
- Groveton
- Hampton
- Harrisonburg
- Herndon
- Highland Springs
- Hollins
- Hollymead
- Hopewell
- Huntington
- Hybla Valley
- Idylwood
- Independent Hill
- Innsbrook
- Kings Park
- Kings Park West
- Kingstowne
- Lake Barcroft
- Lake Monticello
- Lake Ridge
- Lake of the Woods
- Lakeside
- Lansdowne
- Laurel
- Laurel Hill
- Leesburg
- Lexington
- Lincolnia
- Linton Hall
- Long Branch
- Lorton
- Loudoun Valley Estates
- Lowes Island
- Lynchburg
- Madison Heights
- Manassas
- Manassas Park
- Manchester
- Mantua
- Marion
- Martinsville
- Massanetta Springs
- McLean
- McNair
- Meadowbrook
- Mechanicsville
- Merrifield
- Montclair
- Montrose
- Mount Vernon
- Neabsco
- New Baltimore
- Newington
- Newington Forest
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- North Springfield
- Norton
- Oakton
- Orange
- Petersburg
- Pimmit Hills
- Poquoson
- Portsmouth
- Potomac Mills
- Pulaski
- Purcellville
- Quantico Base
- Radford
- Reston
- Richlands
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Rockwood
- Rocky Mount
- Rose Hill
- Salem
- Sandston
- Seven Corners
- Short Pump
- Smithfield
- South Boston
- South Riding
- South Run
- Springfield
- Staunton
- Sterling
- Stone Ridge
- Strasburg
- Stuarts Draft
- Sudley
- Suffolk
- Sugarland Run
- Timberlake
- Triangle
- Tuckahoe
- Tysons
- University of Virginia
- Vienna
- Vinton
- Virginia Beach
- Wakefield
- Warrenton
- Waynesboro
- West Falls Church
- West Springfield
- Williamsburg
- Winchester
- Wolf Trap
- Woodburn
- Woodlake
- Woodlawn
- Woodstock
- Wyndham
- Wytheville
- Yorkshire
Common questions
Who counts as a first-time home buyer?
Definitions vary by program. Many state and federal programs treat you as a first-time buyer if you have not owned a principal residence within a recent multi-year window, so former owners may qualify again. Some programs also include single parents or displaced homemakers who previously owned only with a spouse. Check the definition each program uses, since it can differ from the everyday meaning of the phrase.
Do I have to take a homebuyer education class?
It depends on the loan and the assistance program. Many state agency programs and some loan types require a course before closing, while others simply recommend it. Classes are offered online and in person, often by HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. Even when it is optional, the course explains budgeting, the loan process and ownership costs in a way that can help you avoid common first-purchase mistakes.
What closing costs should a first-time buyer expect?
Closing costs can include lender charges, appraisal and credit report fees, title insurance, recording fees, prepaid interest and initial deposits for property taxes and homeowners insurance. Your Loan Estimate lists them within days of applying, and your Closing Disclosure confirms the final figures before you sign. Some assistance programs and seller concessions can help cover these costs, depending on the program and your contract.
Related guides
- How Mortgage Preapproval Works
- Documents Needed for a Mortgage
- Closing Costs Explained
- First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Virginia
First-Time Home Buyer Loans overview · Virginia mortgage overview
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data; U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey 2025