Updated 9/17/2026

These programs can only be handled by approved lenders. If you would like help from a local realtor familiar with the programs and lenders, fill out this form here and I will connect you with one.

I've included all of the links and contact info needed to do this on your own, the form is meant to make it easier.

Connect with a DPA team

How Down Payment Assistance Works

I need to give a quick overview of how down payment assistance works. After that, the programs are listed.

With down payment assistance, you'll run into two different types:

  • A grant

  • A loan

A Grant

If we meet the qualifications up front, then it's money that does not need to be repaid.

A Loan

If the down payment assistance comes in the form of a loan, then pay attention to the three different types:

  • Repayable

  • Deferred

  • Forgivable

Repayable is just as most imagine. It charges interest over a certain amount of time, with monthly payments until it's paid off.

Deferred loans usually don't require a monthly payment, and typically don't charge interest. It's due in full when you refinance, sell the home, or when it ceases to be your primary residence.

Forgivable loans will disappear if you meet the criteria, which usually comes down to keeping the home as your primary residence for a specific amount of time.

Okay with that, here are the programs!

North Carolina 

NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment Program

  • Assistance: Provides $15,000 in down payment assistance.

  • Terms: 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. Repayment is deferred for 15 years; it is forgiven at 20% per year during years 11 through 15.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers (or military veterans) purchasing a primary residence in NC. Minimum credit score of 640.

  • More Information: NC 1st Home Advantage

NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program

  • Assistance: Provides $15,000 in down payment assistance.

  • Terms: 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. Repayment is deferred for 15 years; it is forgiven at 20% per year during years 11 through 15.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers (or military veterans) purchasing a primary residence in NC. Minimum credit score of 640.

  • More Information: NC Home Advantage Mortgage

Community Partner Loan Pool (CPLP)

Charlotte HouseCharlotte Program

  • Assistance: Provides up to $80,000 for down payment and closing costs, with the amount based on household income.

  • Terms: Deferred loan; generally forgiven after 15 or 30 years (depending on the loan amount and tier) if the owner remains in the home.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers purchasing within Charlotte city limits; household income caps apply (tiered for <80% AMI and 80-110% AMI).

  • More Information: https://dreamkeypartners.org/house-charlotte

Raleigh Homebuyer Assistance Program

  • Standard: Up to $45,000 in assistance.

  • Enhanced: Up to $60,000 for homes in geographically targeted areas.

  • Terms: 0% interest, deferred loans. Repayment is often deferred for 20 years, with forgiveness options available if you remain in the home for 30 years.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers earning no more than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI); property must be within Raleigh city limits.

  • More Information: Raleigh Homebuyer Assistance

Durham Down Payment Assistance Program

  • Assistance: Offers up to $80,000 for down payment and closing costs.

  • Terms: 0% interest, forgivable loan. The loan term is typically 15 years, with forgiveness built in if you remain in the home.

  • Eligibility: Applicants must earn 80% or below of the AMI, be first-time homebuyers, and plan to use the home as their primary residence in Durham.

  • More Information: Durham DPA Program

Greensboro Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program

  • Assistance: Three offerings, each with a bonus for buying in a designated reinvestment or redevelopment area:

  • — Households at or below 80% AMI: up to $25,000, plus a $5,000 bonus. Must be a current City of Greensboro resident.

  • — Public Service Heroes (above 80% and below 120% AMI): up to $20,000, plus a $10,000 bonus. Must be an employee of the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, or Guilford County public schools, or active-duty military or a military veteran. No Greensboro residency requirement.

  • — #100Homes (above 80% and below 120% AMI): up to $20,000, plus a $5,000 bonus. No residency or employment requirement.

  • Terms: 0% interest, 5-year forgivable loan. 20% is forgiven for each year you live in the home.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers (not owned in 3 years) buying a new or existing home as their primary residence within Greensboro city limits.

  • Bonus Areas: Dudley Heights, Eastside Park, Glenwood, Kings Forest, Mill District, Ole Asheboro, Random Woods, and Willow Oaks.

  • More Information: https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/housing-neighborhood-development/housing-services/homeowners-renters/housing-connect-gso/homebuyer-down-payment-assistance-program

High Point City-Wide Homebuyer Assistance Program

  • Assistance: Provides up to $7,500 to reduce out-of-pocket costs for down payment and closing costs.

  • Terms: 5-year loan at 0% interest; forgiven at 20% per year.

  • Eligibility: First-time buyers with income at or below 80% AMI; property must be within High Point city limits.

  • More Information: High Point Homebuyer Assistance

Jacksonville Homeownership Down Payment Assistance Program

  • Assistance: Offers up to $25,000 (sometimes higher for specific rehabilitation needs) for down payment and closing costs.

  • Terms: 0% interest deferred payment loan. Due in full upon sale, refinance, or if the home is no longer the primary residence.

  • Eligibility: First-time homebuyers falling below 80% of the AMI; property must be within Jacksonville city limits.

  • More Information: Jacksonville DPA Program

Rocky Mount Down Payment Assistance Program

  • Assistance: Provides up to $40,000 (plus a $10,000 bonus for targeted neighborhoods) for a total of up to $50,000.

  • Terms: Deferred payment loan. Forgiveness varies by amount (e.g., loans over $40k are forgiven over 15 years).

  • Eligibility: First-time buyers with income at or below 80% AMI; property must be within Rocky Mount city limits.

  • More Information: https://www.rockymountnc.gov/352/Down-Payment-Assistance-Program

$0 Down Options

While this isn't down payment assistance, these options may provide you with a program that does not require a down payment. USDA and VA loans are government-backed loans, while others may be portfolio loans from local financial institutions, which have their own unique rules.

Checked 9/17/2026 against each program's own pages. Rates are not listed here on purpose; every one of these is quoted by the lender, and portfolio lenders rarely publish theirs.

State Employees' Credit Union (SECU) 5-Year ARM and First-Time Homebuyer's Mortgage

  • Assistance: Up to 100% financing on a single-family primary residence, and no PMI on SECU ARM loans. The First-Time Homebuyer's Mortgage version finances 100% of the price up to $500,000 plus up to $2,000 toward closing costs.
  • Terms:
    • 5-year adjustable rate, 30-year maximum term. The rate can only change every five years, capped at 2% per adjustment and 6% over the life of the loan.
    • Loans above 90% financing are capped at $500,000.
    • No application or credit report fee. 1% origination fee, capped at $2,500.
    • The fixed-rate SECU mortgage stops at 95% financing, so the ARM is the $0 down product.
  • Eligibility:
    • SECU membership: NC state employees, public school employees, county DSS staff, retirees, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC employees, and their immediate family (spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild). One eligible relative opens the door.
    • First-Time Homebuyer's Mortgage: no home owned in the last three years, or a new state or public school employee, or relocating for a state or school job within NC.
    • Cannot be combined with the FHLB Atlanta grant SECU also offers.
  • More Information: SECU First-Time Homebuyer's Mortgage |  SECU 5-Year ARM

Coastal Credit Union Live Better Mortgage

  • Assistance: No down payment option with up to 100% financing on a home purchase, and no private mortgage insurance, per Coastal's own page.
  • Terms:
    • Choose a 30-year fixed rate or a 7/6 ARM (fixed for seven years, then adjusts every six months).
    • $1,250 application fee, no document prep charges. Loan maximum is not published; ask the mortgage desk.
  • Eligibility:
    • Coastal membership and a primary residence. Minimum credit score 620 unless the program says otherwise.
    • Coastal is based in Raleigh and serves the Triangle and surrounding counties.
  • More Information: Coastal Credit Union mortgages

Self-Help Credit Union Equity Boost Home Loan

  • Assistance: As little as 1% out of pocket with financing up to 105% of the purchase price (100% of the price plus up to 5% for closing costs), and no PMI. Self-Help is a nonprofit community development lender based in Durham.
  • Terms:
    • Portfolio loan with flexible credit requirements. Rate, term and loan maximum are not published; talk to a loan officer.
    • After closing, Self-Help funds a $2,000 emergency savings account for you, and you can earn $2,000 more by completing homeowner education.
  • Eligibility:
    • Self-Help membership. Built for first-time and first-generation buyers with modest incomes.
    • Owner-occupied primary residence, including 2 to 4 unit properties.
    • Their Self-Help 100 loan is a related option with a 1% to 4% contribution and no income or price limits.
  • More Information: Self-Help Equity Boost Home Loan

USDA Guaranteed Loan (Section 502)

  • Assistance: 100% financing. No down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance.
  • Terms:
    • 30-year fixed only, made by an approved lender with a USDA guarantee.
    • A one-time guarantee fee of 1% and an annual fee of 0.35% in place of mortgage insurance.
  • Eligibility:
    • The home must be in a USDA-eligible area. Most of North Carolina qualifies, and it is one of the heaviest USDA states in the country.
    • Excluded: Charlotte and its suburbs, the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary), the Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point), Fayetteville, Wilmington, Asheville, Greenville, Jacksonville, Hickory, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, Kinston and New Bern.
    • Eligible examples: the entire Outer Banks, most of Brunswick and Pender counties outside Wilmington, the Sandhills around Pinehurst and Southern Pines, and nearly all of western NC outside Asheville.
    • Adjusted household income at or below the county limit, $122,800 for one to four people in 84 of the 100 counties, higher in Wake (about $152,600), Dare, Pender and Moore. Every adult in the household counts, on the loan or not.
  • More Information: USDA property and income eligibility (check the exact address)

VA Home Loan

  • Assistance: No down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance at any loan size. No VA loan limit with full entitlement.
  • Terms:
    • A one-time funding fee, 2.15% of the loan on first use with nothing down and 3.30% on later use, which can be financed.
    • No funding fee for veterans receiving VA disability compensation and for certain surviving spouses.
    • North Carolina closings are handled by an attorney. VA lets you pay the title exam and title insurance part of that bill, but the settlement and document prep part has to be paid by the lender or seller.
  • Eligibility:
    • Veterans, active-duty service members, and National Guard and Reserve members who meet the service minimums. Fort Liberty, Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson, Cherry Point and New River put a lot of eligible buyers in this state.
    • Eligible surviving spouses.
    • Guard members with 90 cumulative days of full-time Title 32 duty qualify under a 2020 law, even if told otherwise before. NC Guard hurricane, pandemic and border activations count.
    • Proof is the Certificate of Eligibility, which most lenders can pull in minutes.
  • More Information: VA Home Loans

Updated 9/17/2026

These programs can only be handled by approved lenders. If you would like help from a local realtor familiar with the programs and lenders, fill out this form here and I will connect you with one.

I've included all of the links and contact info needed to do this on your own, the form is meant to make it easier.