Assistance program · Vermont
Open, per the source
First Generation Homebuyer Grant
Vermont state agency grant of $15,000 for the down payment and closing costs, with a VHFA mortgage; for people who have never owned a home and have less than $20,000 in liquid savings, if their parents or guardians never owned a home (or lost it to foreclosure) or if they were in foster care
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- $15,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Grant
- Grant you never repay
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Grant you never repay
What it gives
$15,000
Source text
$15,000 grant for down payment and closing costs … May be combined with VHFA ASSIST and down payment assistance from other sources … Grants are available while funds last on a first-come, first-served basis. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
Borrowers and non-borrowing spouses must have NEVER owned a home before and have less than $20,000 combined liquid assets … At least one person taking title must EITHER: have been placed in foster care at some point in their life, OR have parents or legal guardians who never owned or lost their home to foreclosure and have not owned again … Available exclusively with VHFA MOVE, MOVE MCC, or ADVANTAGE. … At least one borrower must complete homebuyer education from an approved provider. - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status Open, per the source
- Where it applies All of Vermont
What its page says about being open
Grants are available while funds last on a first-come, first-served basis. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026. vhfa.org
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Vermont
The program covers all of Vermont. The first column is Vermont's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The program sets its maximum price in a table. Compare it with the typical home value in Vermont: $316,600.
The typical home value ($316,600) fits within Vermont's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in Vermont is $85,350.
| Figure | Vermont | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $316,600 | $172,500 (Essex County) to $439,200 (Chittenden County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Addison County) to $575,000 (Grand Isle County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 14 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $85,350 | $83,750 (Caledonia County) to $99,750 (Grand Isle County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Confirm it is still open
Its page said it was open when we checked. These programs run out of money: look again before you start.
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Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Check your county's maximum price
The program sets a maximum price per county in its table.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. Vermont has 7 agencies on HUD's list, and 1 serve people in Spanish.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 5 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Vermont Housing Finance Agency.
What its page does not say
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- Is there any case in which the grant has to be paid back?
Against the others
How it compares with Vermont's other programs
The 3 programs we checked in Vermont, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 2 programs in Vermont, out of 3, that require being a first-time buyer. It is one of 2 out of 3 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. It is the only program in Vermont on our list with "grant" help. 2 of the 3 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Generation Homebuyer Grantthis programOpen, per the source | Grant | $15,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| VHFA ASSIST | Deferred | Up to $10,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Tax credit | Not published | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.