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James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program

James City County Office of Housing · Williamsburg, Virginia

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Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Deferred

No payments until the home is sold or refinanced

What is James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program?

James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Williamsburg, Virginia, administered by James City County Office of Housing.

  • The James City County Office of Housing First-Time Homebuyer Program offers homeowner education classes, credit report reviews, and housing counseling to assist County residents and the local workforce in purchasing affordable housing. The program assists qualified buyers with down payment and closing cost assistance, and in designated areas offers low-interest-rate financing. Hampton Roads Loan Fund Partnership HOME funds are available to assist with purchases throughout the County and the City of Williamsburg.
  • Down payment assistance.
  • Closing cost assistance.
  • Free homebuyer education classes.
  • Credit report review.
  • Pre-purchase housing counseling.
  • Low-interest-rate financing in designated areas.
  • This is a federal program, so it is available beyond a single state or city.
  • Funding comes from Federal HOME Investment Partnerships funds via Hampton Roads Planning District Commission - Hampton Roads Loan Fund Partnership (HRLFP); may be combined with Virginia Housing grants and SPARC reduced-rate financing.

Do you have to pay it back?

James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off.

  • Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, refinance, or loss of owner-occupancy may trigger repayment under the underlying Hampton Roads Loan Fund Partnership / HOME deferred loan terms (specific term not stated on JCC primary source).
  • The assistance is recorded in Second position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Treated as first-time homebuyer if applicant has not owned a home in the last 3 years.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Credit score of 620 or higher.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through James City County Office of Housing homebuyer education classes; pre-purchase housing counseling provided by the Office of Housing.
  • Residency: Program serves James City County residents and the local workforce; assistance is to purchase homes throughout James City County and the City of Williamsburg.
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-12): pending review. Must not have owned a home in the last 3 years; household income at or below 80% AMI; credit score 620+; stable income sufficient for the mortgage payment. DPA sourced from Hampton Roads Loan Fund Partnership HOME funds; may combine with Virginia Housing grants and SPARC. GAP NOTES: exact assistance dollar amount/percentage, interest rate, forgiveness/affordability term, lien details, max purchase price, minimum contribution, and per-household-size income dollar limits are NOT published on the JCC primary source - confirm with the Office of Housing before publishing.

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • Household income may not exceed 80% of Area Median Income (HUD AMI for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC HUD metro). Specific per-household-size dollar limits not published on the JCC program page; determined at application using current HUD income limits.
  • The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program caps the purchase price as follows: Subject to HRLFP / HOME maximum purchase price limits; specific cap not stated on JCC primary source.

  • Eligible property types include Single Family, Townhouse, and Condo.

Where does it apply?

James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program is a federal program, so it is not limited to Virginia.

  • The program targets specific areas: In designated areas the program offers low-interest-rate financing in addition to down payment/closing-cost assistance.

How do you apply?

Applications for James City County First-Time Homebuyer Program go through James City County Office of Housing, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through James City County Office of Housing homebuyer education classes; pre-purchase housing counseling provided by the Office of Housing..

  2. Contact James City County Office of Housing to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Application submitted to James City County Office of Housing (online application); subject to availability of HRLFP HOME funds., and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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