Assistance program · North Carolina
NC Home Advantage Mortgage
NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 3% of the loan
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Forgivable
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
- First-time buyer?
- No
- No first-time requirement
- Minimum credit score
- 640
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
What it gives
Up to 3% of the loan
Source text
For both first-time and move-up home buyers, our NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ provides qualified individuals with stable, fixed-rate mortgages and down payment assistance up to 3% of the loan amount. … Repayment of all of our down payment options is required only if you sell, refinance or transfer your home before year 15—the down payment assistance is forgiven at 20% per year at the end of years 11–15, with complete forgiveness at the end of year 15. 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
You may be eligible for an NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ if: … You are purchasing a home in North Carolina. … You occupy the home as your principal residence within 60 days of closing. … Your annual income doesn’t exceed $158,000. … Your credit score is 640 or higher. … You are applying for an FHA, USDA, VA or conventional loan through a participating lender and meet the sales price limits of the loan type. … You are a legal resident of the United States. … Manufactured homes (660 credit score required). - First-time buyers only No
- Homebuyer course required Not stated — ask
- Minimum credit score 640
- Income limit A flat cap; see the source
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional
- 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 publishes an income cap of $158,000 for the household. 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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Your income cannot go above $158,000
According to its page, the cap counts the whole household's income.
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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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Pick a mortgage it works with
According to its page, the help is used together with a FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional loan. Each loan type has its own requirements.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 640
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
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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 3 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?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- After how many years is the loan forgiven, and what happens if I sell or refinance before then?
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 says you do not need to 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 "forgivable" 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 Home Advantage Mortgagethis program | 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 |
| 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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Mortgage loans
FHA loan: down payment, insurance, limits and who qualifies
How an FHA loan works: the down payment and credit score HUD requires, MIP mortgage insurance, your county limit, the home and the residency rules.
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Mortgage loans
VA home loans: who qualifies, the COE and what it costs
How a VA home loan works: who qualifies, getting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), the funding fee and the rule that you must live in the home.
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.