Assistance program · North Carolina
Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)
NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 25% of the price, capped at $50,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Deferred
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
- First-time buyer?
- Not stated — ask
- The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
What it gives
Up to 25% of the price, capped at $50,000
Source text
Borrowers can receive up to 25% of the sales price or a maximum loan of $50,000, whichever is less. Our assistance is provided as a zero interest, subordinate loan that must be combined with an NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ or a USDA Section 502 Direct loan. 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
If you are buying a home and your income is below 80% of your county’s area median income, you may be eligible to receive home buyer assistance … Borrowers must apply for assistance working with a participating CPLP member. Eligible borrowers must meet household income limits and sales price limits. In addition, borrowers must complete six hours of home buyer education as well as two hours of one-on-one in-person pre-purchase counseling provided by a HUD-approved housing counseling agency - First-time buyers only Not stated — ask
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- 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 Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- 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.
-
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.
-
Check your county's maximum price
The program sets a maximum price per county in its table.
-
Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. North Carolina has 52 agencies on HUD's list, and 23 serve people in Spanish.
-
Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
-
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 7 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?
- Is it only for first-time buyers?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- When is the second loan repaid: when I sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage?
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 whose page does not say whether you must be 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 "deferred" help. It is the only one that requires a homebuyer course.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)this program | Deferred | Up to 25% of the price, capped at $50,000 | Doesn't say | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage | Forgivable | Up to 3% of the loan | No | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment | Type not stated | $15,000 | Yes | Doesn't say | 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
-
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.
-
Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
-
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.
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.