West Virginia Home Loans 2026 — Complete Guide
West Virginia offers up to $12,000 in WVHDF down payment assistance, plus a senior homestead exemption that has no income limit at all.
The number people miss: West Virginia's down payment assistance is not a grant — it's a real second loan you repay every month alongside your primary mortgage, with no forgiveness track at all. Budget for two payments, not a one-time gift.
West Virginia Down Payment Assistance — WVHDF Programs
The West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF) offers down payment help through the Low Down Home Loan, paired exclusively with one of two WVHDF first mortgage products.
WVHDF Down Payment Assistance
Homeownership Program vs. Movin' Up: The Low Down Home Loan pairs with either of WVHDF's two first mortgage products. The Homeownership Program targets lower-income, first-time buyers with the Fund's lowest rates. Movin' Up serves moderate-income buyers and, notably, has no first-time buyer requirement — current or repeat homeowners can use it too, including for newly constructed homes with no acreage limit.
Movin' Up has its own separate DPA option: Beyond the Low Down Home Loan, Movin' Up borrowers can choose a flat $5,000 (for loans above 90% loan-to-value) or $8,000 (below 90% LTV) down payment assistance option at a fixed rate as part of the Movin' Up Special Loan structure — ask your lender which option fits your specific loan-to-value ratio.
Eligibility & Income Limits
WVHDF programs are available through approved lenders in all 55 counties, with income and purchase price limits that vary by program and household size.
Confirm your exact county limit and current program terms at WVHDF.com before applying.
Current Rates
| Product | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30-yr Conventional | 6.55% | Freddie Mac PMMS, week of July 16, 2026 |
| 15-yr Fixed | 5.93% | Freddie Mac PMMS, week of July 16, 2026 |
| WVHDF Homeownership / Movin' Up first mortgage | Below market | Confirm current rate with a WVHDF-approved lender |
2026 Loan Limits by County
Jefferson County, part of the Washington DC exurbs in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, is the state's only high-cost county, sharing the national ceiling with DC-area counties in Virginia and Maryland.
| Loan Type | Standard Counties (54) | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| FHA | $541,287 | $1,249,125 |
| Conventional (Conforming) | $832,750 | $1,249,125 |
| VA | No county limit for buyers with full entitlement | |
Verify your exact county's limit at HUD.gov before house-hunting.
Property Tax in West Virginia
What Buyers Should Budget For
West Virginia's property tax is genuinely among the lowest in the country, and its Homestead Exemption for residents 65 and older or permanently and totally disabled is unusually generous in one specific way: unlike many states' senior relief programs, it has no income test at all. Any qualifying homeowner can remove $20,000 from their home's assessed value regardless of how much they earn. The exemption is not retroactive, however — if you were eligible for years and never applied, you cannot reclaim the missed savings, so file with your county assessor by December 1 as soon as you qualify. New buyers should confirm with the county assessor whether the exemption is already reflected in a property's listed tax bill or whether it needs to be filed fresh.
Pick Your Loan Type
Are you a teacher, nurse, firefighter, police officer, EMT, or veteran? West Virginia may run additional hero-specific loan programs on top of the general WVHDF options covered here. Browse the Hero Home Loan Programs hub and select West Virginia for profession-specific options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bottom Line: West Virginia offers genuinely affordable home prices and property tax, and WVHDF's Low Down Home Loan meaningfully reduces cash needed at closing — just plan for the ongoing monthly repayment rather than expecting forgiveness. Seniors and disabled homeowners should not skip filing for the homestead exemption, since it isn't retroactive if missed.
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