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By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 21, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Concord, NC (2026)

Population: 112,000 | Median home price: $385,000 | Est. closing costs: $7,500 - $11,500

Skyline of Concord, NC

Concord, North Carolina is a fast-growing city in the Charlotte metro area and the county seat of Cabarrus County, with a median home price around $385,000. The city offers the House Concord Down Payment Assistance Program, providing up to $10,000 in forgivable loans for first-time buyers with incomes at or below 80% AMI, with a purchase price cap of $332,000 for existing homes. The DreamKey Partners NeighborhoodLIFT Program also serves Cabarrus County with forgivable down payment assistance for owner-occupied purchases. At the state level, the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment offers up to $15,000, and the Community Partners Loan Pool provides up to $50,000 or 25% of the purchase price. By combining local, nonprofit, and state programs, Concord homebuyers can stack significant assistance to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.

City Programs in Concord

House Concord Down Payment Assistance Program
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $10,000
First-time only:
Yes

State Programs in North Carolina

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to 25% of the sales price, maximum $50,000
First-time only:
No
FHLBA Community Partners Product
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:
No
FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:
Yes
FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+
Type:
Grant
Amount:
Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:
No
NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
$15,000
First-time only:
Yes
NC Home Advantage Mortgage
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to 3% of the loan amount
First-time only:
No
ReBuild NC Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP)
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $30,000 in down payment assistance plus up to 5% of sales price for closing costs
First-time only:
Yes
Self-Help Loan Pool (SHLP)
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Up to $50,000 (max $35,000 if home is within one of 24 CDBG Entitlement Cities in NC)
First-time only:
No

Federal Programs

FHA Loans
Type:
Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:
Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
First-time only:
No
Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)
Type:
Government Property Sale Program
Amount:
50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:
Yes
Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)
Type:
Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:
Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
First-time only:
No
HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)
Type:
Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:
Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
First-time only:
No
HUD $100 Down Program
Type:
FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
Amount:
Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
First-time only:
No
USDA Rural Development Loans
Type:
Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:
100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:
No
VA Loans
Type:
Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:
No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
First-time only:
No

Nonprofit Programs

DreamKey Partners NeighborhoodLIFT Program
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Forgivable loan for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:
Yes
Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County Homeownership Program
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Affordable Habitat mortgage with zero-interest terms
First-time only:
No
NACA Homebuyer Program
Type:
Repayable Loan
Amount:
No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, plus below-market interest rate mortgage
First-time only:
No

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. The House Concord program requires first-time buyer status and income at or below 80% AMI for the Concord-Gastonia HUD Metro area. You must also contribute a minimum of $1,000 toward the purchase price.

Step 2: Complete an 8-hour homebuyer education workshop through a HUD-certified agency. DreamKey Partners, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency serving the Charlotte metro including Cabarrus County, offers homebuyer education courses.

Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. If applying for the NC Home Advantage Mortgage, use an NCHFA-approved lender to access up to $15,000 in state down payment assistance. You will need a credit score of at least 640 for state programs.

Step 4: Contact the City of Concord Business and Neighborhood Services Division to apply for the House Concord program. Find a single-family home or manufactured home within Concord city limits priced at or below $332,000 for existing homes or $350,000 for new construction.

Step 5: Contact DreamKey Partners to check availability of the NeighborhoodLIFT program for additional forgivable down payment assistance in Cabarrus County.

Step 6: Submit your applications and complete the review process. The city will coordinate your House Concord assistance with your lender at closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Concord?+
Concord buyers can combine multiple programs. The House Concord program provides up to $10,000 as a forgivable loan. The DreamKey Partners NeighborhoodLIFT Program offers additional forgivable assistance for purchases in Cabarrus County. At the state level, the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment provides up to $15,000, and the Community Partners Loan Pool offers up to $50,000 or 25% of the purchase price. By stacking eligible programs, buyers could potentially access substantial assistance.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+
Yes, for most programs. The House Concord program, DreamKey Partners NeighborhoodLIFT, and the NC 1st Home Advantage all require first-time buyer status, meaning you have not owned a home as your principal residence in the past three years. Veterans may qualify for the state program regardless of prior ownership. The Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County program does not require first-time buyer status but has income limits of 60% AMI.
What is the maximum home price for the House Concord program?+
For FY 2025-2026, the House Concord program has a maximum purchase price of $332,000 for existing properties and $350,000 for new construction. Only single-family homes and manufactured homes are eligible. The property must be within Concord city limits.
What homebuyer education is required?+
The House Concord program requires completion of an 8-hour homebuyer education workshop provided by a HUD-certified agency or counselor. DreamKey Partners, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency serving the Charlotte metro area including Cabarrus County, offers homebuyer education courses and one-on-one counseling.
Is the House Concord assistance truly forgivable?+
Yes. The House Concord assistance is structured as a five-year depreciating loan that depreciates at 20% per year. After five years of continuous owner-occupancy, the loan is considered paid in full and you owe nothing. If you sell or move out before five years, you repay the remaining undepreciated balance.
Can Habitat for Humanity help me buy a home in Concord?+
Yes. Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County builds and sells affordable homes to families with incomes at or below 60% AMI who have lived in Cabarrus County or the City of Kannapolis for at least one year. Applicants must commit to sweat equity hours and complete homebuyer education. Applications typically open during summer months. Contact Habitat Cabarrus at 8 Church Street SE, Concord, NC 28025 for details.

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