How WVHDF Targeted Counties Unlock Higher Income Caps and Repeat-Buyer Eligibility — Hollerbright
Updated October 2026
A buyer who owned a home recently may still qualify for the West Virginia Housing Development Fund’s Homeownership Program when purchasing in an eligible targeted county. The important question is not simply whether you are a first-time buyer. It is whether the property location, household income and purchase price fit the program’s current rules.
What targeted status actually changes
The Homeownership Program generally serves first-time buyers, with exceptions that include eligible targeted areas. Targeted status can remove the usual first-time-buyer restriction and provide more generous income or acquisition-cost limits under the applicable schedule.
Do not assume every rural county is targeted. Use the current county designations and limit tables from the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. Ask your participating lender to identify the exact county row, household-size category and purchase-price ceiling used for your application.
Program income can differ from the income used to qualify for the mortgage payment. A household may comfortably afford the payment but exceed a program cap, or satisfy the cap while lacking enough qualifying income for underwriting.
Compare Homeownership with Movin’ Up
Movin’ Up is another WVHDF pathway for eligible moderate-income buyers, including repeat buyers. Rather than choosing by program name, compare the actual financing packages.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the county targeted? | It can change Homeownership eligibility and limits. |
| Which household income counts? | Program eligibility and underwriting can use different calculations. |
| Is assistance available? | The amount and terms affect closing cash and monthly debt. |
| Does the purchase price qualify? | A mortgage loan limit is not a program purchase-price cap. |
WVHDF’s Low Down Home Loan offers eligible borrowers a separate loan at 2% interest over 15 years, with assistance up to $7,500 or $10,000 depending on the applicable program rules. It is repayable financing, not an automatic grant.
Keep county loan limits in perspective
For 2026, the baseline conforming limit is $832,750 in 54 West Virginia counties. Jefferson County has a $1,249,125 limit because it belongs to the Washington metropolitan area. Verify county loan limits through FHFA, but evaluate WVHDF caps separately.
Bring your address, household details and ownership history to Hollerbright’s free quote request. Compare the resulting payment with the monthly payment calculator, including any assistance-loan payment. If you also qualify for Ascend WV’s $12,000 remote-worker incentive, confirm its payment schedule rather than assuming the full award will be available at closing.
Compare Current Mortgage Rates
Compare current APRs, points, fees, and estimated monthly payments from participating lenders below.
Loan Program Comparison: 2026 Benchmarks
How WVHDF Targeted Counties Unlock Higher Income Caps and Repeat Buyer Eligibility — Choose a mortgage by comparing eligibility, upfront cash and total monthly costs, not the advertised rate alone. Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA serve different borrowers. Confirm county limits, taxes, insurance and lender requirements before comparing personalized Loan Estimates for your household.
Historical 2025 one-unit comparison: conforming $832,750; FHA floor $541,287. County and unit-count limits can differ.
| Loan program | Down payment / equity | 2026 one-unit baseline | Costs and page-specific comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 3%–5% subject to eligibility | $832,750 | PMI generally below 20% down |
| FHA | 3.5% at 580+; 10% at 500–579 | $541,287 floor | 1.75% upfront MIP; 0.55% annual for >95% LTV, base loan ≤$726,200, term >15 years |
| VA | 0% for eligible borrowers | No VA limit with full entitlement | No monthly PMI; funding fee unless exempt |
| USDA | 0% for eligible borrowers | Income, address and repayment eligibility | Guarantee and annual fees; confirm current schedule |
| Jumbo | Lender-specific cash and reserves | Above applicable conforming limit | Lender-specific pricing and insurance |
| Home Equity / Refinance | Equity and underwriting dependent | Property and lender dependent | Compare closing costs, term and break-even |
Sources: FHFA limits; HUD FHA limits.
Editorial Methodology & Primary Sources
Verification date: Not recorded; check the primary source and lender timestamp before relying on an estimate.
Rate comparisons use participating lender feeds, not a whole-market survey or guaranteed offers. Freddie Mac PMMS is a market benchmark, not a personalized quote. Calculator models rely on published regulatory formulas and disclosed assumptions rather than fabricated first-person loan testing.
Monthly principal and interest use the amortization formula P × r / (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is the monthly note rate and n is the number of payments; at zero interest use P / n. PITI adds monthly property taxes and homeowners insurance; PMI is separate. APR includes applicable finance charges under Regulation Z and is not the note rate used for payments. Compare lender Loan Estimates for actual APR and fees.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — Loan Estimates, APR and borrower disclosures; Regulation Z.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD / FHA) — FHA program guidance.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — VA loan eligibility and benefits.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) — published rate benchmarks.
- U.S. Census state tax collections — state property tax benchmarks; confirm parcel-specific assessments and exemptions with the state revenue department and local assessor.
- West Virginia Housing Development Fund — state housing finance and property tax authority.
- West Virginia Tax Division — state housing finance and property tax authority.
The payment snapshot uses illustrative annual taxes of 1% of home price, $1,200 insurance and 0.5% PMI below 20% down, not verified local quotes. Other calculators disclose their inputs and assumptions. Published guidance and lender feeds may change independently; confirm current program rules, taxes and offers before a decision.