4th St Townhome is an Affordable Ownership Opportunity

These townhomes have affordability covenants, and maximum income limits apply. To qualify for purchasing these properties, a median family income (MFI) of 30-80% is required.

Steps To Buy A Home at 4th St

Learn about our Program

To get started with our program, join us for an information session. We hold them every week, both in-person and online – check out our schedule here!

This is still an active construction site so no one under 16 is allowed to enter the homes. We will have lenders on site if you’d like to apply for a pre-approval for the units while at the open house! If you are interested, please bring to the open house: ID, Last Two Paystubs, Last Two Years W2, Last Two Years Federal Taxes, Last Month Bank Statements.

4th St Townhome Purchaser Qualifications

Purchasers must meet all of the following:

• First-time homebuyer (having not owned real estate in the last 3 years)
• Primary residency or at least one applicant with full-time employment in DC, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Fairfax County, or Arlington County for the last 12 months or more
• Total household income falls between 30-80% of Median Family Income (MFI) as defined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 2026 limit was $166,100.

And meet at least one of the following need-based requirements:

• Currently living in an unsafe surrounding environment 
• Residing in temporary housing 
• Living in subsidized housing or participating in a housing voucher program
• Overcrowding
• Rent burden (paying more than 30% of monthly income on rent) 
• Heating, electrical, plumbing, or structural deficiencies

Ability to Pay:

Purchasers must meet all of the following:

• If wages or salary are primary sources of income, a 2-year work history that includes a minimum of 6 months with the current employer and any gaps in employment must be explained
• If self-employed, must have 2 years of documented, stable income with the last 6 months in the same line of work
• Income can reasonably be expected to continue for 3 years or more
• Current credit reports free of unpaid collection, judgment, and liens
• Current credit reports must not show bankruptcy in the last 3 years or foreclosures in the last 7 years
• Tri-Merge middle credit score of 620+
• Quality for non-subprime or approved alternative third-party financing
• Total debt to income ration, including new housing cost must be less than 43% of your monthly income
• Show at least $2000 in current bank statements, no account overdrafts in the last two months, and bank statements or proof of assets not to exceed 10% of the fair market value

Willingness to Partner:

Douglass CLT and Habitat DC-NOVA want to ensure that people who are normally priced out of homeownership have an opportunity to build some equity while keeping the home affordable for the next buyer. When (and if!) homeowners sell their house, the new price will be calculated so that they gain financially, but the home is still affordable to someone at a similar income level.

Homebuyers now complete 50-100 partnership hours, including homebuyer education, financial education, and community service, as part of the program requirements. 

Questions?

Please email Eli Echavarria, Family Services Coordinator, at eli.echavarria@habitatdcnova.org and reference Constitution Avenue.