Assistance program · North Carolina
NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment
A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- $15,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Type not stated
- The source does not say the type of help
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- The source does not say the type of help
What it gives
$15,000
Source text
$15,000 down payment assistance option A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
The Agency also offers an $15,000 down payment assistance option— the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment —just for eligible first-time buyers (those who haven't owned a home as their principal residence in the past three years) and military veterans. - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Legal residence in the U.S., per the source
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Yes
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of North Carolina
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in North Carolina
The program covers all of North Carolina. The first column is North Carolina's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The program sets its maximum price in a table. Compare it with the typical home value in North Carolina: $288,900.
The typical home value ($288,900) fits within North Carolina's FHA limit ($541,287).
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in North Carolina is $68,150.
| Figure | North Carolina | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $288,900 | $94,500 (Robeson County) to $461,300 (Wake County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $541,287 | $541,287 (Alamance County) to $805,000 (Perquimans County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 in all 100 counties | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $68,150 | $62,650 (Alleghany County) to $105,850 (Wake County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Check your county's maximum price
The program sets a maximum price per county in its table.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 5 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Do you require a homebuyer course? Which ones do you accept, and what do they cost?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
Against the others
How it compares with North Carolina's other programs
The 3 programs we checked in North Carolina, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is the only one of North Carolina's 3 programs that requires being a first-time buyer. It is one of 3 out of 3 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. It is the only program in North Carolina on our list with "type not stated" help.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC 1st Home Advantage Down Paymentthis program | Type not stated | $15,000 | Yes | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage | Forgivable | Up to 3% of the loan | No | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | Deferred | Up to 25% of the price, capped at $50,000 | Doesn't say | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
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Help and programs
Public charge and housing: what the rules say
Public charge: which housing help DHS may consider, who is exempt, how HUD prorates assistance for mixed-status families and where to get free advice.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.