Summary answer: The statewide down payment help for first-time buyers in Vienna is Virginia Housing's grant of 2% of the price on its conventional loan or 2.5% on its FHA loan, for eligible buyers. Fairfax County's Department of Housing and Community Development also lists below-market Affordable and Workforce Dwelling Units, down payment assistance, and counseling, and the Town of Vienna does not run its own purchase-assistance program that I have found. Each program has income limits, education requirements, and lender requirements, and price limits may exclude much of the Vienna market, so you must line them up before you make an offer.
I'm Johnny with JQ Real Estate. Here is how the programs work, who to call, and what to do first.
Virginia Housing
Virginia Housing, the state housing finance agency, offers a down payment assistance grant of 2% of the purchase price when you use its conventional loan, or 2.5% when you use its FHA loan. It is a grant and does not need to be repaid. Income limits, sales price limits, credit minimums, and homebuyer education apply, and lenders may set stricter credit standards. Virginia Housing publishes current limits at virginiahousing.com, and they change, so check before you plan around the money. On a $400,000 purchase, 2% is $8,000 and 2.5% is $10,000.
Fairfax County Housing and Community Development
The county's homeownership page lists these resources:
- Affordable Dwelling Unit program. Gives low- and moderate-income households access to homes at below-market prices.
- Workforce Dwelling Unit program. Also offers below-market homes.
- Down Payment Loan. The county has a page for it, and I have not verified its terms.
- Counseling. Pre- and post-purchase counseling, and down payment assistance, lower interest rates, and reduced mortgage principal as funding is available.
The county's page does not publish income limits, eligibility rules, or residency requirements. Call 703-246-5087 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or email homeownership@fairfaxcounty.gov to get the current terms before you build a plan around them.
How the programs compare
| Feature | Virginia Housing Grant | Fairfax County Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | 2% (conventional) or 2.5% (FHA) of the price | Varies by program and funding |
| Type | Grant | Below-market sales and assistance, per the county |
| Where it applies | Anywhere in Virginia, within program limits | Fairfax County; confirm whether your specific address qualifies |
| Key requirement | Income and price limits, education | Confirm with the county |
| Where to check | virginiahousing.com | 703-246-5087 |
Do not forget the loan itself
Assistance reduces the cash you need, but you still have to qualify for the mortgage. At today's rates, with Freddie Mac's 30-year average at 7.28% on October 1, 2026, the monthly payment is the harder hurdle for many buyers, so run the payment before you assume a grant solves the problem. Properties inside the Town of Vienna pay Fairfax County's real estate tax of $1.12 per $100 of assessed value (adopted May 5, 2026, down from $1.1225, for the budget year that began July 1, 2026) plus the Town of Vienna's tax of 19 cents per $100, which the Town Council cut from 19.5 cents when it adopted the fiscal 2027 budget on May 19, 2026. That is $1.31 per $100 combined. The Town's tax is separate from the county's, and the Town's page lists due dates of July 28 and December 5 with a 10% penalty after each date. The Town estimated that the average bill would still rise about $80 a year because assessments rose, and the county estimated an average increase of $337. Confirm with the Town at 703-255-6325 and with Fairfax County Tax Administration at 703-222-8234, and note that a Vienna mailing address does not always mean the home is inside the Town.
Steps to take, in order
- Check Virginia Housing's income and price limits for your household.
- Call Fairfax County at 703-246-5087 and ask which programs fit your income and the home you are considering.
- Take any required homebuyer education class and keep the certificate.
- Get pre-approved by a lender who is approved for the programs you plan to use.
- Save your own funds for earnest money, appraisal, inspection, and any required contribution.
- Tell your lender and agent about the program before you make an offer, since timelines and paperwork differ.
An example
A household buys a $380,000 condo with 3.5% down on an FHA loan, which is $13,300. If they qualify for the Virginia Housing grant at 2.5%, that is $9,500 toward the purchase, which covers most of the down payment. They still bring cash for inspection, appraisal, and any required contribution. Because a grant carries no repayment, their monthly cost reflects only the mortgage. Without the grant they would need to find that $9,500 elsewhere, and the difference can decide whether a purchase is realistic.
Market context
Redfin reported a median sale price of $1,356,854 for Vienna over the three months ending September 2026, up 2.8% from a year earlier, with 51 homes sold, down 25.3% from 68. The median home spent 47 days on the market, up 15 days, and sold at 98.8% of list. 24.0% of homes sold above list, down 11.3 points, and 23.9% had price drops, up 4.9 points. Median price per square foot was $400, down 6.1%. Redfin's Compete Score for Vienna was 55 out of 100, which it labels somewhat competitive, and it estimates that the average home sells about 1% below list and goes pending in about 36 days, while hot homes sell about 1% above list in about 5 days, with about 3 offers per home. Competition for well-priced homes means your financing and assistance paperwork need to be ready before you tour, not after.
Start with a plan
Reach out and I'll walk you through which assistance you may qualify for, connect you with a lender who handles the programs, and help you target homes that fit the rules.
For more Vienna buyer and seller questions, visit our Vienna real estate hub.