Vermont first-time home buyer programs
Vermont Housing Finance Agency lists 3 programs that help buyers in Vermont with the down payment or closing costs. Amounts and terms are shown as the agency publishes them.
- Programs from the agency
- 3
- Biggest amount listed
- $15,000
- First-time buyers only
- Every program
- Income caps
- Up to $180,000
Down payment assistance programs in Vermont
| Program | Amount | Grant or loan | Income limit | First-time buyers only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down Payment Assistance (ASSIST). With a VHFA MOVE loan (not a VA loan); homebuyer course; price limit mOVE purchase price limits apply (no figure stated). | Up to $10,000 | Deferred loan: 0% loan with no monthly payments. You repay it when you sell, refinance or pay off your home loan. | Your income must be within MOVE income limits. Agency income chart | Yes |
| First Generation Homebuyer Program. Only for first-generation buyers: at least one titleholder was in foster care, or whose parents or guardians never owned a home or lost it to foreclosure. With a VHFA MOVE, MOVE MCC, or ADVANTAGE first mortgage; homebuyer course. | Up to $15,000 | Grant: It's a grant, so you don't repay it. | Income limits follow your chosen VHFA program: MOVE, MOVE MCC, or ADVANTAGE. Agency income chart | Yes |
| Shared Equity Assistance. Only for buyers of shared-equity homes through a Vermont Housing Trust (community land trust or resale-restricted homes). With Fannie/Freddie Community Land Trust or Resale Restricted loan. | Up to $5,000 | Grant: A grant that never has to be repaid. | Varies by county and household size, up to $180,000 Agency income chart | Yes, with exceptions |
Usually, "first-time buyers only" means you haven't owned a home during the past three years, though every program sets a rule of its own. The name of each program links to a Vermont Housing Finance Agency page that says whether applications are open right now. The agency also maintains its own list of participating lenders. Compare down payment assistance programs across all states, or ask a lender that works with Vermont's programs.
How do you repay Vermont's programs?
- Deferred loan: nothing to pay each month, but the full amount comes due when you sell, refinance or pay the first mortgage off.
- Grant: money you never pay back, used for the down payment or closing costs.
How does your income compare with Vermont's caps?
Every program has its own income cap, which the table shows, and the exact chart is on that program's agency page. Use the HUD income limits lookup (FY2026) to find the figure for your county and household size. If a program relies on its own county chart or Freddie Mac's, the result can differ from HUD's number, and the agency's chart decides.
Talk to a lender that works with Vermont programs
These programs are paid out through the agency's approved lenders, so the lender is your next step. Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with Vermont's programs can explain which ones fit you.
Rather not call? Send your details and the lender will reach you.
Are you buying near a state border?
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York or programs for all 50 states plus DC.