Buying a Home in Washington DC
Preparing to buy a home in Washington DC? This could be the optimal time to find your dream home in the Federal City. Here’s all you need to know:
Have you identified a spot to live? Washington DC, the U.S. capital, is a compact city on the Potomac River, between Maryland and Virginia. It is commonly called the DMV, as it divides the two states.
The median sales price of a home in D.C. is over $1 million dollars. Washington D.C. is home to nearly 700,000 people, as many as several smaller New England states.
The next step is to determine how much of a home you can buy. Being pre-approved helps you gain relevant information on your budget before you house hunt.
First-time Homebuyers
Are you a first-time home buyer in DC? First-time home buyer loan programs are administrated by the District of Columbia’s Housing Finance Agency, or DCHFA.
DC Open Doors program offers mortgages at below-market interest rates , and may include down payment assistance in the form of a deferred, non-amortizing zero-interest loan with no repayment required until 30 years have passed, or the home is sold, refinanced, or the owner moves out.
The Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) provides eligible first-time home buyers with up to $84,000 to use as down payment and closing cost assistance. These funds are a no-interest loan, with no payments required for the first five years unless the borrower stops using the property as their primary residence or sells or refinances the home.
Refinancing in Washington DC
Wondering how you can refinance your home in Washington DC to take advantage of favorable Washington DC mortgage rates? You can do any of the following:
- Refinance to attain a lower interest rate
- Refinance to gain a longer term
- Refinance to collect cash-out equity
- Refinance to throw out a private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirement
You may be able to get a streamlined refinance if you have the right type of loan. Ask your lender for more information.