To prepare to purchase an ARCH home, you can start by doing the following:
1) Sign up for the ARCH mailing list to be notified of housing opportunities
2) Take Homebuyer Education course ***
3) Work with a lender to get preapproved for a mortgage and determine how much you can afford
4) Gather paystubs, last year’s tax return and asset account statements
***Starting January 1st, 2025, A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH) will require all prospective homebuyers interested in an ARCH new construction home to take the homebuyer education course and obtain their certificate of completion before being placed on a priority list for a new construction home.
This change ensures that buyers are well-informed about the financial and practical aspects of owning a home. The homebuyer education course must be certified through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission or an equivalent course. Applicants must obtain the certificate of completion by the time an interest form is submitted to be placed on the priority list for a new construction home.
This move aligns with ARCH efforts to help first-time homebuyers understand critical elements like mortgage planning, budgeting, and long-term homeownership responsibilities, ensuring they are prepared to purchase their first home.
You can find a homebuyer education course here.
Not sure if you’re eligible to buy an ARCH Home?
New Construction Homes
To receive announcements on new construction homes, click here to sign up on our mailing list.
Once on the ARCH mailing list, you will be notified of the latest information on the new homes for sale, including steps on how to apply. ARCH will work with you to verify eligibility prior to purchase (Eligibility Requirements).
Starting in 2020, ARCH adopted a prioritization scoring model when there is more than one applicant for a particular new construction home. This model assigns points for various criteria, such as first-time homebuyer, living or working in the same city as the home, income, and household size. All buyer scoring criteria is verified prior to purchase.
Resale Homes
For affordable resales, click here to see the active listings. Please reach out directly to sellers or seller’s agents for more information.
For resales, ARCH will work with you to verify your eligibility for purchase once you have a signed purchase and sale agreement (Eligibility Requirements).