North Carolina first-time home buyer programs
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency lists 3 programs that help buyers in North Carolina with the down payment or closing costs. Amounts and terms are shown as the agency publishes them.
- Programs from the agency
- 3
- Biggest amount listed
- $50,000
- First-time buyers only
- 1 of 3 programs
- Income caps
- Up to $158,000
Down payment assistance programs in North Carolina
| Program | Amount | Grant or loan | Income limit | First-time buyers only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ down payment assistance. With an FHA, USDA, VA or conventional NC Home Advantage Mortgage through a participating lender; credit score 640+. | Up to 3% of the home loan | Forgivable loan: You repay it only if you sell, refinance or give the home to someone else before year 15. From year 11 to year 15, 20% is forgiven each year. | Your yearly income must be $158,000 or less. | No |
| NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment. With an NC Home Advantage Mortgage (FHA, USDA, VA or conventional); credit score 640+; price limit must be within program sales price limits. | Up to $15,000 | Forgivable loan: 0% loan with no payments. From year 11 to year 15, 20% is forgiven each year, so after year 15 you owe nothing. | Your income and the home's sales price must meet program limits. | Yes, with exceptions |
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP). With an NC Home Advantage Mortgage or a USDA Section 502 Direct loan; credit score 640+; homebuyer course; price limit varies by county. | Up to 25% of the price, at most $50,000 | Deferred loan: 0% loan with no monthly payment, usually repaid when you sell the home or the loan term ends. | Household income must be below 80% of county area median income. | No |
Usually, "first-time buyers only" means you haven't owned a home during the past three years, though every program sets a rule of its own. The name of each program links to a North Carolina Housing Finance Agency page that says whether applications are open right now. The agency also maintains its own list of participating lenders. Compare down payment assistance programs across all states, or ask a lender that works with North Carolina's programs.
How do you repay North Carolina's programs?
- Forgivable loan: keep the home and its first mortgage for the set years, and this second loan is written off.
- Deferred loan: nothing to pay each month, but the full amount comes due when you sell, refinance or pay the first mortgage off.
How does your income compare with North Carolina's caps?
Every program has its own income cap, which the table shows, and the exact chart is on that program's agency page. Use the HUD income limits lookup (FY2026) to find the figure for your county and household size. If a program relies on its own county chart or Freddie Mac's, the result can differ from HUD's number, and the agency's chart decides.
| HUD area | Median family income | HUD low-income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $117,400 | $93,900 |
| Winston-Salem | $96,700 | $76,250 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $85,200 | $68,150 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $132,300 | $105,850 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $129,900 | $101,700 |
Talk to a lender that works with North Carolina programs
These programs are paid out through the agency's approved lenders, so the lender is your next step. Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with North Carolina's programs can explain which ones fit you.
Rather not call? Send your details and the lender will reach you.
Are you buying near a state border?
Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia or programs for all 50 states plus DC.