Housing & Rent · Surprise rank #17
Use Your Section 8 Voucher to Buy a Home Instead of Renting!
Some Housing Choice Voucher programs let eligible participants use voucher assistance toward homeownership expenses instead of rent.
Who
Housing Choice Voucher participants whose public housing agency offers the homeownership option and who meet its eligibility rules.
Where: Nationwide through participating public housing agencies
What to do
Start here: Ask the agency that administers your voucher whether it offers the HCV Homeownership Option and whether it is accepting participants.
Eligibility: The household must already receive Housing Choice Voucher assistance, the PHA must offer the homeownership option, and the family must meet first-time-homeowner, housing-counseling, minimum-income and other program requirements.
What you get
A participating housing agency can apply Housing Choice Voucher assistance toward qualifying homeownership costs.
Benefit: Ongoing housing-assistance payments applied toward eligible homeownership expenses rather than rental costs.
Possible value: Depends on voucher calculations, household income, housing costs, and the local program.
Good to know
Important: Every PHA may choose whether to offer the program, so having a voucher does not mean the homeownership option is available locally.
Availability: Active federal option; local availability varies
Why people miss it: Voucher holders usually hear about rental use, not the separate homeownership option.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026