First-time home buyer programs in Charlotte
City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services runs House Charlotte for buyers in Charlotte: up to $80,000, as a forgivable loan.
- Program available locally
- 1
- Highest amount
- $80,000
- Loan or grant
- Loan that can be forgiven
Down payment help in Charlotte
| Program | Amount | Loan or grant | Income limit | First-time buyers only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House Charlotte. Managed by City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services. | Up to $80,000 | Loan that can be forgiven | Buyers must be first-time, with income at or below 110% based on area median income. Program 1A covers buyers at or below 80%, while Program 1B covers 80.01%-110%. | Yes |
House Charlotte: who qualifies?
- Inside Charlotte city limits (every neighborhood profile area in the City of Charlotte).
- Buyers must be first-time, with income at or below 110% based on area median income. Program 1A covers buyers at or below 80%, while Program 1B covers 80.01%-110%.
- This program requires you to be a first-time buyer.
- A sales price of $365,000 is the maximum allowed.
- Get 8 hours of homebuyer education and counseling from a HUD-approved agency.
- Your primary residence must be the home.
- Combining it with NCHFA Community Partners Loan Pool is allowed.
The assistance is a deferred loan at 0% interest with no monthly payments across a 30-year term, and it is forgivable at year 31.
Once you've kept the home for the number of years set by the program, the forgivable loan is written off.
An approved mortgage lender submits the application for the buyer. For the full rules, read City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services's page for House Charlotte.
In Charlotte, you can also use North Carolina's statewide programs.
| Program | Amount | Loan or grant |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | You may receive up to 25% of the price, with a limit of $50,000. | Deferred loan |
| North Carolina NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment | Up to $15,000 | Loan that can be forgiven |
| North Carolina NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ down payment assistance | Up to 3% of the home loan | Loan that can be forgiven |
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency offers all North Carolina first-time buyer programs. Our HUD income limits tool shows the income figure for Mecklenburg County.
Talk with a lender about buying in Charlotte
Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with North Carolina's programs can tell you which of these fit you, and which you can combine.
Prefer not to call? Give the lender your details and they'll contact you.