If you’re hoping to buy a home in West Virginia, you’ll be in good company: The Mountain State boasts the highest percentage of residents who own their homes — nearly 78 percent — of any state in the country. While the median sale price on a home there is up 4 percent in the past year, there is help to cover the costs.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, consider starting with the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF), where you’ll find competitive interest rates on loans and down payment assistance.
West Virginia homeownership statistics
Median home price, as of Jan. 2025: $244,800 (Redfin)
Median down payment, as of Dec. 2024: $19,749 (ATTOM)
Most affordable counties: Boone, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Ritchie, Webster, Wyoming (ATTOM)
West Virginia first-time homebuyer programs
WVHDF HOMEownership Program
WVHDF’s HOMEownership Program connects first-time homebuyers with a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for up to 100 percent of a home’s purchase price and a below-market interest rate. The loan can also be paired with down payment and closing cost assistance. To qualify, you must be a first-time buyer, defined as someone who hasn’t owned a home in the last three years; buying a home in a targeted county or a veteran.
Requirements
Pros and cons
WVHDF Movin’ Up Program
WVHDF’s Movin’ Up Program is designed for current homeowners looking to trade up, but first-time homebuyers can also qualify. Notably, if you’re a low-income buyer, you may qualify for the Movin’ Up Special Program, which offers lower interest rates and mortgage insurance premiums.
Requirements
Pros and cons
West Virginia down payment assistance and grants
WVHDF Low Down Home Loan
Used in conjunction with WVHDF’s Homeownership Program, this second mortgage provides up to $8,000 for down payment and closing costs. The assistance is offered as a 15-year second mortgage with a 2 percent interest rate.
Pros and cons
City-specific homebuyer assistance programs
Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium of West Virginia: Homebuyer Assistance Program
If you’re a first-time homebuyer in the city of Martinsburg, or in Jefferson, Berkeley or Morgan county, you might qualify for up to $14,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance. The assistance takes the form of a zero-interest loan that’s forgiven if you stay in the home for at least five years.
Requirements
Pros and cons
Parkersburg: Down Payment Assistance Program
Eligible first-time homebuyers in Wood County can get up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. You must be considered low- or moderate-income to qualify. If you stay in the home for at least five years, the assistance is forgiven.
Requirements
Pros and cons
Charleston: Home Blend
First-time buyers in the city of Charleston or Kanawha County may be eligible for up to $27,000 in homebuying assistance: up to $25,000 toward a down payment and $2,000 toward closing costs. If you meet program requirements, the assistance is forgivable.
Requirements
Pros and cons
Other West Virginia first-time homebuyer loans
These government-guaranteed or -insured loans are available to homebuyers everywhere, including West Virginia.
FHA loans: FHA loans have lower credit score requirements than conventional loans: You can qualify to make a down payment of just 3.5 percent if your score is at least 580.
VA loans: Current service members, veterans and eligible spouses may be eligible for VA loans, which come with one major perk: no down payment in most cases.
USDA loans: If you’re buying in a qualifying rural area (use this tool to figure out if your location is eligible), USDA loans can be a great path to purchasing the home. There’s no minimum down payment requirement, but most lenders do require a credit score of at least 640.
Get started
Whether you choose a WVHDF program or another loan, it’s smart to do some research before your first home purchase.
