Wednesday, November 8, 2006 1:43 PM

To learn more about reduced-price condos on sale and programs which provide financial assistance for moderate-income households, check out these Web sites:

Arlington County, Va.

Arlington County's Housing Division provides several home-financing tools and condo-ownership opportunities for first-time home buyers. For info see:

arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/housing/housing_info/CPHDHousingHousing_infoHomebuyers.aspx.

Programs include:

A lottery system that selects and notifies eligible buyers when condos are selling at below-market prices.

The Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP), which provides up to $25,000 toward down payment and closing costs.

Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities (SPARC), a special Virginia Housing Development Authority loan, offers a fixed-rate mortgage of 4.625 percent -- a full point below the standard mortgage rate.

Washington, D.C.

The D.C. government's Employer Assisted Housing Program, open to D.C. government employees, matches down payment funds of up to $1,500 and awards a deferred loan of up to $10,000: dhcd.dc.gov/dhcd/frames.asp?doc=/dhcd/lib/dhcd/info/pdf/ehap2.pdf

D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Housing Assistance Program, for D.C. police officers, provides loans toward the purchase of a first home: dhcd.dc.gov/dhcd/frames.asp?doc=/dhcd/lib/dhcd/info/pdf/mpap2.pdf

There are also deals for non-government employees who live in D.C. D.C.'s Home Purchase Assistance Program offers closing- cost assistance to people who earn up to 110 percent of D.C.'s AMI -- which boils down to about $80,000 for a two-person household.

The same program provides partial down payment assistance to two-person households with incomes up to $66,000. Low-income households can get up to $70,000 in zero-interest loans. Department of Housing and Community Development: 202- 442-7200; dhcd.dc.gov

The National Capital Revitalization Corp. (202-467-1078; ncrcdc.com) produces condo-buying opportunities for any low-income -- 30 to 80 percent of D.C.'s AMI -- or moderate-income -- 80 to 120 percent of the AMI -- resident. Check the Web site for currently available NCRC units.

Montgomery County, Md.

The Montgomery County Council is considering a work-force housing program for the upper-moderate income category (70 and 120 percent of the AMI): montgomerycountymd.gov/dhctmpl.asp?url=/content/DHCA/housing/housing_P/housing_p.asp

The Moderate Priced Dwelling Unit Program (MPDU) offers condos to buyers who live or work in the county, earn less than 70 percent of the AMI and have not owned a home in the last five years: montgomerycountymd.gov A.S.