First Home GrantsCall 866-602-7460

DC4ME

DC Housing Finance Agency offers DC4ME to first-time buyers in the District of Columbia: up to 3%, as a deferred loan.

Amount
As much as 3%
Type of help
Deferred repayment loan
Only first time buyers
Yes
Your credit score
At least 640

As a deferred loan, it is a 0% second loan with no monthly bill; agency pages give no due date.

You pay nothing monthly on a deferred loan, yet all of it comes due if you sell, refinance or finish paying the first home loan.

Who can qualify for DC4ME?

  • You must be a current full time District of Columbia Government employee, and eligible instrumentalities, independent agencies plus public charter schools count too.
  • A household may earn up to 170% of the area median income, but not over $275,400.
  • First time buyers are the only ones eligible, which usually means no home owned during the prior three year period.
  • Your credit score must be 640 or more.
  • You need a homebuyer education course before you purchase.
  • This is tied to the DC4ME lower rate first trust mortgage that DCHFA provides.

Most limits depend on your county and how many people are in your household. Use our HUD income limits tool to find your area's median income and see where your household falls.

DC4ME application steps

  1. The approved lender takes your mortgage application and the assistance request together, since DC Housing Finance Agency provides funds through them.
  2. A lender reviews your earnings, credit and the property under program rules, then reserves the funds on your behalf.
  3. At closing, the money goes toward your down payment and closing costs.

Check the full rules and whether applications are open on DC Housing Finance Agency's page for DC4ME, or choose a lender from the agency's participating lender list.

Talk with a lender about DC4ME

Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with the District of Columbia's programs can tell you whether DC4ME fits you, and what you could combine with it.

Call 866-602-7460

Prefer not to phone? Share your details, and the lender will contact you.

When you send this request, you agree that one mortgage lender who works with these programs may contact you by email, phone or text, including by automated means, about this request. Agreeing is not a condition of any purchase. We are an independent guide, not a lender or a government agency; only that one lender gets your details, and it may pay us for the introduction. See our about page and privacy notice.

More District of Columbia programs for first time buyers

Every District of Columbia first time buyer program · Down payment help nationwide