West Virginia Housing Development Fund (HDF) Programs:
Updated July 2026The West Virginia Housing Development Fund (HDF) offers 30‑year fixed mortgages through approved lenders plus down payment/closing cost assistance for eligible buyers. Income and purchase price limits are county‑specific and some counties are designated "targeted" (first‑time requirement waived). Always confirm program details and current rates with an HDF‑approved lender or the Fund. See the WVHDF homebuyer pages for official limits and program PDFs: WVHDF Home Buyers and the 2025–26 Income & House Price Limits (WVHDF).
West Virginia First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Programs:
Eligibility: First-time buyers (generally no ownership in past 3 years unless buying in a targeted county); income limits apply by county.
Offerings: 30‑year fixed mortgages (FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional) through WVHDF programs and partner lenders; can pair with WVHDF down payment assistance when eligible.
Requirements / typical ranges:
- Income limits: County‑specific; check the WVHDF limits PDF for exact household limits and purchase price caps. (WVHDF limits).
- Minimum credit score: Varies by loan type and WVHDF underwriting guidance. WVHDF procedural guidance shows representative FHA/USDA/VA minimums around 620 and conventional manual underwriting minimums commonly around 640 — confirm with your lender. (WVHDF procedural guide).
- Debt‑to‑income (DTI): WVHDF guidance commonly caps FHA/USDA/VA total DTI near 49.99% for Homeownership program loans; conventional packaging often expects DTI near or below about 41%. Lenders may have stricter overlays. (WVHDF procedural guide).
- Homebuyer education is required for many WVHDF loans; mandatory counseling providers are listed on the Fund site.
Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Options:
WVHDF Low Down Home Loan: The Fund's statewide down payment/closing cost assistance product (the Low Down Home Loan) is available with the Homeownership or Movin' Up programs. Effective Jan 22, 2026, the Fund increased the maximum Low Down Home Loan from $8,000 to up to $12,000 (15‑year fixed, 2.00% per lender memo). Confirm CLTV and eligibility with your lender. See the WVHDF program page and the lender memo: WVHDF Low Down Home Loan and Low Down Home Loan Increase (WVHDF memo).
Other HOME or ADDI funds administered by cities or counties can be larger but are awarded locally and change year to year. Always verify exact DPA amounts and whether assistance is a forgivable grant or a deferred second loan with the local program administrator or Fund partner lender.
Local / County Examples:
Local HOME or city programs often layer with the WVHDF or federal loans. Funding is limited and changes with annual HOME/CDBG allocations. Check the local contacts below before assuming availability.
Charleston / Kanawha County
Charleston HOME Blend (MOECD): The City of Charleston offers HOME Blend assistance to qualifying buyers inside city limits, typically structured as a HOME second with forgivable elements per HOME rules. See the City of Charleston MOECD program page for official details and contact info: Charleston HOME Programs.
Huntington / Cabell County
Cabell‑Huntington‑Wayne (CHWHC) HOMEbuyer Assistance: The consortium program administered by the City of Huntington has official materials that may provide up to 25% of the purchase price, not to exceed $25,000, as a 0% HOME loan for eligible buyers (subject to HOME rules). See the official CHWHC application: CHWHC Homebuyer Assistance (City of Huntington PDF).
Morgantown / Monongalia County
Morgantown / FMHA programs: The Fairmont‑Morgantown Housing Authority and the City of Morgantown operate homebuyer counseling and occasional DPA programs. Local assistance amounts vary by program year and funding source; recent local activity and CAPERs show DPA awards commonly in the low‑thousands up to roughly the low five figures in some years. Verify current caps and application steps with the Fairmont‑Morgantown Housing Authority (FMHA HomeOwnership Center) or the City of Morgantown CAPERs.
Additional Information:
- USDA Loans: USDA Single Family Housing programs can offer no‑down‑payment mortgages in eligible rural areas; eligibility and income limits are county‑based. See USDA RD Single Family Housing.
- VA Loans: VA purchase loans typically allow 0% down for eligible veterans and service members (certificate of eligibility required). See VA Purchase Loan (VA.gov).
- FHA Loans: FHA loans commonly allow a 3.5% minimum down payment for borrowers with qualifying credit (HUD/FHA guidance sets a 580 score tier for 3.5% down); WVHDF may apply overlays — always verify lender and WVHDF overlays. See FHA/HUD resources: HUD / FHA.
Always confirm program availability, exact income and purchase price limits, and current DPA dollars with an HDF‑approved lender, the local housing authority, or the WVHDF website: wvhdf.com.
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