West Virginia First-Time Home Buyer Guide 2026
WVHDF’s Homeownership Program, Low Down Home Loan and Movin’ Up Program explained side by side, with the full county-by-county income and house price limits, the 35 targeted counties, and what qualifying actually requires.
WVHDF Homeownership Program for West Virginia Buyers
The West Virginia Housing Development Fund’s Homeownership Program primarily targets first-time homebuyers and, in WVHDF’s words, generally offers its lowest interest rates and access to its down payment assistance loan. Loans are 30-year fixed-rate mortgages that can finance up to 100% of the home’s purchase price.
| Feature | Homeownership Program |
|---|---|
| Term | 30-year fixed rate |
| Financing | Up to 100% of the purchase price |
| Income limit | By county — $57,040 to $102,100 |
| House price limit | $300,000; $350,000 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties |
| Prior ownership rule | No ownership interest in a principal residence in the prior three years, when buying in a non-targeted county |
| Lot size | Five acres or smaller |
| Down payment assistance | Low Down Home Loan available |
WVHDF designates 35 of West Virginia’s 55 counties as targeted. The three-year prior-ownership rule applies to purchases in the 20 non-targeted counties. The full county list is in the income limits table below.
WVHDF Low Down Home Loan
The Low Down Home Loan is WVHDF’s down payment and closing cost assistance. It is a second mortgage, not a grant, and it is available only with a WVHDF Homeownership or Movin’ Up first mortgage.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Assistance amount | Up to $12,000 |
| Use | Down payment and/or closing costs |
| Form | Second mortgage |
| Term | 15-year fixed |
| Interest rate | 2% |
| Loan-to-value | Available when the loan-to-value ratio is at or above 80% |
| Eligibility | Must meet the Homeownership or Movin’ Up program requirements |
Because the assistance is a real second mortgage, it carries a monthly payment that counts in your debt ratios. WVHDF states that the Low Down Home Loan is available only with other WVHDF first mortgage loans. Confirm current terms with the West Virginia Housing Development Fund.
WVHDF Movin’ Up Program
Movin’ Up is designed for moderate-income first-time or repeat buyers and has no first-time buyer requirement. WVHDF notes that first-time buyers whose income exceeds the Homeownership Program limits may qualify through Movin’ Up instead.
| Feature | Movin’ Up Program |
|---|---|
| First-time buyer required | No |
| Income limit | $171,120, all counties |
| House price limit | $350,000, all counties |
| Acreage limit | None |
| Eligible homes | Single-family homes, townhomes, approved PUD and condominium units, and post-1976 doublewide manufactured homes in West Virginia |
| Movin’ Up Special | For qualifying income at or below 80% of area median income for the census tract; reduced rate and lower-cost private mortgage insurance |
WVHDF Income and House Price Limits in West Virginia
The Homeownership Program sets a household income limit and a house price limit for each county. The limits below are effective for rate locks made on or after January 2, 2026. Federal compliance income includes everyone on the note and/or title, and neither the sales contract price nor the first mortgage amount may exceed the house price limit.
| County | WVHDF Status | Income Limit | House Price Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbour | Non-targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Berkeley | Non-targeted | $76,320 | $350,000 |
| Boone | Non-targeted | $60,160 | $300,000 |
| Braxton | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Brooke | Non-targeted | $64,160 | $300,000 |
| Cabell | Non-targeted | $63,840 | $300,000 |
| Calhoun | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Clay | Targeted | $60,160 | $300,000 |
| Doddridge | Targeted | $68,240 | $300,000 |
| Fayette | Targeted | $60,320 | $300,000 |
| Gilmer | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Grant | Targeted | $64,800 | $300,000 |
| Greenbrier | Non-targeted | $57,440 | $300,000 |
| Hampshire | Targeted | $90,480 | $300,000 |
| Hancock | Non-targeted | $64,160 | $300,000 |
| Hardy | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Harrison | Non-targeted | $67,760 | $300,000 |
| Jackson | Targeted | $66,480 | $300,000 |
| Jefferson | Non-targeted | $102,100 | $350,000 |
| Kanawha | Non-targeted | $60,160 | $300,000 |
| Lewis | Targeted | $61,600 | $300,000 |
| Lincoln | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Logan | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Marion | Non-targeted | $72,400 | $300,000 |
| Marshall | Non-targeted | $65,680 | $300,000 |
| Mason | Non-targeted | $60,880 | $300,000 |
| McDowell | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Mercer | Non-targeted | $57,120 | $300,000 |
| Mineral | Targeted | $75,520 | $300,000 |
| Mingo | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Monongalia | Non-targeted | $78,720 | $300,000 |
| Monroe | Targeted | $58,800 | $300,000 |
| Morgan | Non-targeted | $76,320 | $300,000 |
| Nicholas | Targeted | $62,720 | $300,000 |
| Ohio | Non-targeted | $65,680 | $300,000 |
| Pendleton | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Pleasants | Targeted | $66,400 | $300,000 |
| Pocahontas | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Preston | Targeted | $78,720 | $300,000 |
| Putnam | Non-targeted | $63,840 | $300,000 |
| Raleigh | Non-targeted | $60,320 | $300,000 |
| Randolph | Targeted | $59,840 | $300,000 |
| Ritchie | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Roane | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Summers | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Taylor | Targeted | $57,840 | $300,000 |
| Tucker | Targeted | $61,200 | $300,000 |
| Tyler | Targeted | $70,240 | $300,000 |
| Upshur | Targeted | $58,000 | $300,000 |
| Wayne | Targeted | $63,840 | $300,000 |
| Webster | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
| Wetzel | Targeted | $59,680 | $300,000 |
| Wirt | Targeted | $57,920 | $300,000 |
| Wood | Non-targeted | $57,920 | $300,000 |
| Wyoming | Targeted | $57,040 | $300,000 |
Limits are from WVHDF’s Programs Income and House Price Limits chart. Movin’ Up uses a single statewide limit of $171,120 income and a $350,000 house price.
Who Qualifies in West Virginia
WVHDF layers its own rules on top of whatever first mortgage you use. You have to clear both.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Home must be in West Virginia |
| Income | At or below the county limit (Homeownership) or $171,120 (Movin’ Up) |
| First-time buyer | Homeownership: no ownership interest in a principal residence in the prior three years when buying in a non-targeted county. Movin’ Up: not required |
| Credit | WVHDF says a score in the low- to mid-600s can generally be acceptable, with other factors considered |
| Cosigners | Not allowed on WVHDF loans |
| Homebuyer education | Required on conventionally insured or uninsured loans; FHA, VA and USDA loans follow the insuring agency’s rules |
| Mortgage insurance accepted | FHA, VA, USDA and private mortgage insurance |
West Virginia First-Time Home Buyer Steps
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Check the limits | Confirm your county’s income and house price limits and whether it is a targeted county |
| 2. Contact a loan originator | Apply through a WVHDF loan originator or one of its partner lenders |
| 3. Choose the loan | Homeownership or Movin’ Up, with or without the Low Down Home Loan |
| 4. Complete homebuyer education | Required on conventionally insured or uninsured loans |
| 5. Get pre-qualified | The lender reviews your income, credit and debts |
| 6. Make an offer and close | Keep the price and first mortgage within the house price limit |
Run the numbers on the Low Down Home Loan before you commit to it. Its payment adds to your monthly housing cost, so compare it against saving a larger down payment.
