NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program

North Carolina’s Housing Finance Agency realizes that one of the major obstacles on the path to homeownership is the down payment. Though many people can afford to make monthly mortgage payments, they don’t have enough money saved to pay the upfront costs. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program aims to help individuals overcome this obstacle.

Available Assistance
This program provides fixed-rate mortgages to qualified homebuyers, as well as down payment assistance of up to 5 percent of the loan amount. Borrowers are not expected to repay the down payment unless the property is to be sold, refinanced, or transferred within 15 years. The down payment assistance is forgiven at 20 percent per year after 10 years in the home.

Applicants who are first-time buyers or military veterans may be eligible to combine the NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program with a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) to increase their savings.

Eligibility Requirements  
In order to be considered eligible for the NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program, all applicants must meet certain requirements. While there is no first-time homebuyer requirement, all applicants must be legal U.S. residents. They must have an annual household income under the program' maximum limit, $87,500, and a credit score of at least 640. Homebuyers must apply for an FHA, USDA, VA, or conventional loan through a participating lender and meet the sales price limits of the loan type.

Property Guidelines
Applicants must occupy the home as their principal residence within 60 days of closing. Eligible property types include new and previously owned single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, duplexes, and new manufactured homes (660 credit score required).

Note: All figures cited in these program descriptions were accurate at the time of publication and may no longer be current - visit the program website(s) for updated information.