Virginia's Giving First-Time Buyers $10K

Real talk — if you’re a first-time buyer in Northern Virginia and nobody told you about the $10,000 grant sitting on the table, that’s exactly why I’m writing this.

The Money Nobody’s Talking About

Virginia Housing has a Down Payment Assistance Grant of up to $10,000 for first-time buyers. Not a loan. A grant. You don’t pay it back. Income limits run $85,000 to $143,000 depending on your household size and county, and most lenders want to see at least a 620 credit score to make it work.

We don’t talk about this enough because most agents are too busy chasing listings to walk first-time buyers through what’s actually available to them. My community deserves to know this exists before they assume homeownership in NOVA is out of reach.

Why This Matters Right Now in Prince William County

Here’s the truth about where we’re at: the median sold price across Northern Virginia hit $810,000 in June, up over 5% from last year, and homes are moving in an average of 15 days — less than half the national pace. Rates are sitting around 6.88% on a 30-year fixed as of today.

That combination — rising prices, fast pace, higher rates — is exactly why buyers need every advantage they can get. A $10,000 grant toward your down payment isn’t a nice-to-add, it’s the difference between waiting another two years and closing on a home in Woodbridge or wherever you’re trying to plant roots in Prince William County this year.

What You Actually Do With This Info

If you’re in this situation — first home, tight on the down payment, unsure if you even qualify as a “first-time buyer” (spoiler: you likely do if you haven’t owned in the last three years) — here’s your move:

1. Check your household income against the $85K–$143K range for your area.

2. Get your credit checked — 620 is usually the floor.

3. Talk to a lender who actually knows Virginia Housing programs, not just conventional loans.

4. Then talk to me, so we can map out what homes in your price range actually look like right now with this grant factored in.

Nobody’s going to hand you this information — banks aren’t advertising it, and a lot of agents don’t even know the details. I do, because helping people in Woodbridge and across Prince William County actually own something is the whole point of what I do.

Let’s Be Real for a Second

Homeownership in NOVA can feel like it’s only for people who already have money. It’s not. Programs like this exist because Virginia wants first-time buyers in the game. The information gap is the only thing standing between you and a plan.

Reply to this email if you want me to run your numbers, or forward this to somebody you know who’s been sitting on the sidelines thinking they can’t afford to buy in Northern Virginia right now. They probably can — they just don’t know it yet.

— Khalil
Sine Limitatione 🔱