Prince William County first-time buyer guide: programs and a local agent

Why work with Talithia Morris on a first purchase in Prince William County

I work from a Woodbridge office at the address above, with Virginia license 0225226152, at eXp Realty. I have 10+ years in Northern Virginia real estate, 30+ closed VA loans, 5.0 stars from 96 Google reviews, and 86 Zillow reviews.

If you may use a VA loan, I can walk that path with you. I will not quietly steer a VA-eligible buyer to another loan for convenience. For funding fee, entitlement, and minimum property requirements, see How VA loans work for first-time buyers. For a PCS or military-move guide, see VA realtor in Northern Virginia.

I help first-time buyers compare the county First-Time Homebuyers Program and Virginia Housing options before they write an offer, then stay with the search, the offer, and settlement.

Book a free 30-minute consult

Call or text 703-344-6762.

Prince William County at a glance

The REALTOR® Association of Prince William, using Bright MLS data, reported a September 2026 median sold price of $565,000 for Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park together (single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums). The figure was released October 14, 2026. It was down 3.9% from August and 3.4% from September 2025. That release also recorded 439 closed sales and 1,172 active listings, up 29.8% from a year earlier. PWAR notes that a change in the mix of homes sold can move the median. This is not a Woodbridge-only or city-only median. See the PWAR September 2026 release.

Woodbridge and Manassas have VRE service. Quantico and Fort Belvoir are nearby, which can matter for a commute and for VA-loan eligibility. I do not recommend a neighborhood based on a duty station.

For Woodbridge tax and ownership-cost detail, and for condo and HOA loan-approval checks, see the Woodbridge first-time buyer guide.

Down payment and closing-cost programs that apply here

Eligibility is individual. A Virginia Housing–approved lender, and for the county loan the county program, have to confirm what you qualify for.

Prince William County First-Time Homebuyers Program

The Office of Housing and Community Development's First-Time Homebuyers Program (FTHB) provides loans, not a grant, for down payment and closing-cost assistance to low- and moderate-income first-time buyers. Income may not exceed 80% of Area Median Income. Buyers must live or work in the Prince William Area (Prince William County, the City of Manassas, or Manassas Park) and buy in that same area. The program is funded by HOME. First-trust lenders must be approved by Virginia Housing. Applications are taken in open periods, subject to funding, and reserved first-come first-served once all phases of the application and purchase process are complete. Check the official FTHB page to see whether a period is open.

The county defines a first-time buyer as someone who has not purchased or had an ownership interest (own, purchase, co-sign, inherit, or similar, whether or not they lived there) in a home or other residential property in the last three years, anywhere.

The October 2026 program flyer describes assistance of 23%–33% of the approved sales price, as determined by the Office of Housing and Community Development and the lender, subject to income limits, eligibility, and funding. The official October 2026 application packet is more specific: up to 33% at or below 60% AMI, or up to 23% above 60% AMI up to 80% AMI, with the closing-cost portion no more than 3% of the approved sales price. Combined gross household income must be at or below 80% AMI.

Current 80% AMI (moderate income) limits from the official Prince William Area 2026 median income tables, with the 80% table effective September 14, 2026 (the October 2026 flyer labels the same numbers “Effective 10.1.2026”):

The same official PDF lists median family income for the Washington metro area as $166,100. Prince William is part of the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Re-check the live income-limits PDF before you apply.

The help is a 30-year deferred Deed of Trust on the property, along with shared market appreciation. The second trust is due and payable if the property is no longer used as the principal residence, is sold, is transferred or changes ownership, the primary loan is refinanced to remove equity, or another deed term is violated. This is not a grant.

Highlights from the October 2026 flyer (this is a summary, not legal advice; the official flyer and packet control):

• Occupants must be U.S. citizens or qualified persons legally admitted with valid USCIS documents, and first-time buyers as defined by HUD.
• No outstanding judgments or collections, and no late payments in the last 12 months, for all adult household members.
• Three Financial Education and Housing Counseling certificates from Prince William Virginia Cooperative Extension for adults who will share financial responsibility for the first trust.
• No payday, cash-advance, or title loans, and no negative checking or savings balances, in the last six months.
• Minimum middle credit score of 640.
• Minimum 1% borrower contribution of the approved maximum sales price.
• If a bankruptcy was filed, at least four years since discharge and no late payments since.
• Must qualify for a first-trust loan from a Virginia Housing–approved lender with an office in Virginia.
• Extra restrictions after foreclosure, deed-in-lieu, or short sale.

The October 2026 packet also says not to write a purchase contract before the informational session. Ask the program or a participating lender which first-trust loan types are allowed with FTHB.

Before applying: complete the FTHB Application Readiness Self-Check; get the three VCE certificates; make a formal loan application with a Virginia Housing–approved lender (the lender completes the Pre-Qualification Lender Information Form and provides it with the Loan Estimate); then submit the completed FTHB application and documents.

The preferred path is the online Neighborly portal. You can also deliver a packet to Elizabeth Funes, Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Dr., Suite 112, Woodbridge, VA 22191, or call Julie Roane at 703-792-7538 for a mailed paper application. Program contact: Elizabeth Funes, 703-492-2303, efunes@pwcgov.org. County housing hub: pwcva.gov/housing. A lender participation list is posted as a resource; buyers may use any Virginia Housing–approved lender who will follow FTHB rules.

Required education, through Prince William Virginia Cooperative Extension, is a Home Ownership Seminar, Smart Money Management, and a Financial Assessment by appointment. Use the Extension FTHB page, pwcva.gov/money, or the class calendar for current dates, times, and registration. Seminar sites are typically Sudley North Government Center, 7987 Ashton Avenue, Manassas, VA 20109, and the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge.

Virginia Housing grants and the Plus Second Mortgage

Virginia Housing offers three assistance options. You use one of them, not a combination of the three. Whether county FTHB can be used with Virginia Housing help depends on both programs and the first-trust lender. Ask the lender and the county program. Do not assume they can be combined.

Down Payment Assistance Grant. A true grant, with no repayment. For a qualified first-time homebuyer, or a repeat buyer purchasing in an Area of Economic Opportunity. It must be paired with a bond FHA or conventional loan from Virginia Housing. Household income and sales-price or loan limits apply. It may be paired with other non-Virginia Housing assistance. Virginia Housing's August 2026 program guidelines say the maximum grant is 2% of the lesser of sales price or appraised value with a Conventional Bond first mortgage, or 2.5% with an FHA Bond first mortgage. Funds must be used toward down payment, not closing costs. A 1% minimum down payment from an eligible source is required (it may be a gift). The grant cannot be combined with the Plus Second Mortgage or the Closing Cost Assistance Grant. The consumer grant page does not display the 2% / 2.5% figures, so a lender should confirm the current amount. See the DPA Grant page and the August 2026 guidelines.

Closing Cost Assistance Grant. No repayment. For a qualified first-time buyer or a repeat buyer in an Area of Economic Opportunity. It pairs with a Virginia Housing bond Rural Development (RD) or VA loan. It may be worth up to 2% of the purchase price and may be applied to closing costs, RD guarantees, or VA funding fees. It can be paired with other non-Virginia Housing grants. See the CCA Grant page.

Plus Second Mortgage. A 30-year fixed-rate second loan that is repaid. It pairs with an eligible Virginia Housing first mortgage to cover the down payment and, for some credit-qualified borrowers, part of the closing costs. There is no prepayment penalty. It is open to first-time and repeat buyers with a non-bond or bond FHA or conventional loan from Virginia Housing, within limits. Income limits are higher than the grants, which can help buyers who do not qualify for grant funds. The maximum second mortgage is 5% of the purchase price; if you qualify, you can borrow 1.5% more than the purchase price. Closing-cost financing on this loan requires a credit score of 680 or higher. It cannot be combined with the DPA or CCA grants. See the Plus Second Mortgage page.

Income and sales-price limits for the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area, effective August 1, 2026 (Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park are in this area), from Virginia Housing's lending limits page:

Applications dated before August 1, 2026 used the 2025 limits. Re-check the live limits page.

For a fuller grant explanation, see the Virginia first-time buyer guide. For Woodbridge-specific ownership costs and condo checks, see the Woodbridge first-time buyer page.

Virginia Housing contact: 877-843-2123; local 804-782-1986; Homeownership@VirginiaHousing.com. Find a Lender.

VA, FHA, and conventional in one short pass

• VA: $0 down for eligible veterans, service members, and some surviving spouses with full entitlement, and no monthly PMI. Virginia Housing lists credit scores as low as 620. The CCA Grant can apply to a bond VA loan. See How VA loans work for first-time buyers.
• FHA: typically 3.5% down; Virginia Housing lists credit scores as low as 620.
• Conventional: first-time options can start at 3% down; Virginia Housing lists a 640 minimum credit score on its conventional programs.

USDA / Rural Development loans can offer $0 down on eligible rural properties, with scores as low as 620 on Virginia Housing's home-loans page, and the CCA Grant can apply to a bond RD loan. Do not assume an address in the county qualifies. Check the USDA eligibility map for a specific address.

First-time-buyer status has exceptions in Areas of Economic Opportunity. Conventional non-bond has its own exceptions. Details are on the Virginia Housing home-loans page.

Cities and communities this guide covers

This is a geographic list, not a ranking of where you should live.

• Woodbridge is in eastern Prince William County and is where my office is based. See the Woodbridge first-time buyer guide for local tax, ownership-cost, and condo-check detail.
• Dumfries, Dale City, Lake Ridge, Occoquan, and Triangle are also in the county.
• Manassas and Manassas Park are independent cities. They are part of the Prince William Area for the county FTHB program.
• Gainesville, Bristow, and Haymarket are in the western part of the county.

If you are also looking just outside the county, see the Fredericksburg first-time buyer page and the Alexandria first-time buyer page.

How I help first-time buyers in Prince William County

1. Consult and goals. We start with a free 30-minute consult and map what you can afford and which programs may apply.
2. Program and lender fit. I help you compare the county FTHB loan and Virginia Housing options and connect you with a Virginia Housing–approved lender when that path is in play.
3. A search that matches the budget and the loan.
4. Touring and offer prep. That includes a reminder that condo project approval matters. The Woodbridge guide has the how-to.
5. Inspections and settlement coordination.

Book a free 30-minute consult