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Down Payment Assistance

Oregon and Washington will help with your down payment. Most buyers never even check.

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Overview

Down payment assistance (DPA) programs offer grants, forgivable loans, and low-interest second loans that cover part or all of your down payment and closing costs. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and various city and county programs all run active assistance — and eligibility reaches further into the middle class than most people assume. We keep current on what's funded, what's waitlisted, and what stacks with which loan types, because this landscape changes constantly.

Who It's For

First-time buyers short on down payment, solid on income
Buyers who assumed they need 20% down (almost nobody does)
Moderate-income households within program limits
Teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees (some programs favor them)
Anyone whose only obstacle to buying is the cash at closing

How It Works

01

Eligibility Scan

Income, household size, location, first-time status — we check you against every currently funded program in OR/WA, not just the famous ones.

02

Stack & Structure

We pair the assistance with the right base loan and show you the real cash-to-close number. This is where the magic actually happens.

03

Education Course

Most programs require a homebuyer education class — a few hours, online, genuinely useful. We'll point you to an approved one.

04

Close

The assistance funds at closing alongside your loan. Your savings stay in your pocket for moving, furniture, and the surprises every house brings.

Requirements

IncomeProgram limits vary — many reach well into middle income
Buyer StatusMost (not all) target first-time buyers
EducationHomebuyer education course usually required
OccupancyPrimary residence
PairingStacks with conventional, FHA, and other loan types

These are general guidelines, not a quote or commitment to lend. Actual terms depend on credit approval, income, and underwriting — not all applicants will qualify, and programs and requirements are subject to change without notice. Through Movement Mortgage we have access to additional programs with different requirements. Contact David & Bri for options specific to your situation.

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Real money toward down payment and closing costs — sometimes forgivable
Stacks with 3%-down conventional or 3.5%-down FHA to shrink cash-to-close dramatically
Some programs forgive entirely after you stay in the home a set number of years
Income limits are higher than most buyers assume
Turns 'a few more years of saving' into 'this year' for a lot of households

Considerations

Program funding comes and goes — timing matters
Some assistance is a repayable second loan, not a grant (we'll be clear about which)
Adds paperwork and sometimes a week or two to closing
Income and purchase-price limits exclude some buyers and neighborhoods

FAQ

5 questions

What down payment assistance exists in Oregon?

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OHCS runs the state's flagship programs (including Oregon Bond Residential Loan options with cash assistance), and there are city and county programs on top — Portland Housing Bureau assistance among them. What's actually funded changes through the year, which is why we check live rather than working off last year's list.

Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?

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Depends on the program. Some are grants (never repaid), some are forgivable seconds (forgiven after you occupy the home a set number of years), and some are low-interest or deferred loans repaid when you sell or refinance. We'll tell you exactly which type you're getting before you commit.

What are the income limits for assistance in Oregon?

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They vary by program and county, and they're higher than most people expect — many programs serve households earning around or even above the area median income. Two-income households frequently still qualify. It costs nothing to check.

Can I combine assistance with an FHA or conventional loan?

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Yes — that's the standard play. Assistance covers some or all of the down payment on a 3% conventional or 3.5% FHA loan, which can shrink your cash-to-close to a fraction of what you feared. Stacking rules vary by program, and we handle that matching.

Does using assistance make my offer weaker?

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In practice, rarely. The assistance is approved up front and funds at closing like any other source. A clean pre-approval letter with a realistic timeline is what listing agents care about — and that part is on us, not the program.

Ready to explore dpa?

Schedule a complimentary consultation. We'll review your situation and tell you honestly whether this is the right move.

Get Pre-Approved →Schedule a Call →