See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 21, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Durham, NC (2026)
Durham is a vibrant city in North Carolina's Research Triangle with a population of over 301,000 and a median home price around $420,000. First-time homebuyers in Durham have access to one of the largest city-funded assistance programs in the state. The City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $80,000 in forgivable, zero-interest loans for qualifying buyers purchasing within city limits. Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) offers permanently affordable homeownership through its community land trust model, and the NACA Homebuyer Program provides a no-down-payment, no-closing-cost mortgage at below-market rates. Combined with statewide NCHFA programs like the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment ($15,000) and the Community Partners Loan Pool (up to $50,000), Durham buyers can stack significant assistance to make homeownership attainable.
City Programs in Durham
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 25% of the purchase price, capped at $80,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 25% of the purchase price, capped at $80,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in North Carolina
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | Deferred Loan | Up to 25% of the sales price, maximum $50,000 | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Grant | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment | Forgivable Loan | $15,000 | Yes | View → |
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage | Deferred Loan | Up to 3% of the loan amount | No | View → |
| ReBuild NC Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $30,000 in down payment assistance plus up to 5% of sales price for closing costs | Yes | View → |
| Self-Help Loan Pool (SHLP) | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to $50,000 (max $35,000 if home is within one of 24 CDBG Entitlement Cities in NC) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 25% of the sales price, maximum $50,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 3% of the loan amount
- First-time only:
- No
- 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
- 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
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- 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
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- 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
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Below-market home purchase price (land cost removed — buyers purchase the home while leasing the land from DCLT) | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Durham Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable below-market mortgage (Habitat builds or rehabilitates homes and sells at affordable prices with zero-interest mortgages) | Yes | View → |
| NACA Homebuyer Program | Repayable Loan | No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, plus below-market interest rate mortgage | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Below-market home purchase price (land cost removed — buyers purchase the home while leasing the land from DCLT)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable below-market mortgage (Habitat builds or rehabilitates homes and sells at affordable prices with zero-interest mortgages)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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. Review income limits — you must earn at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Durham County. For a family of four, that's approximately $92,500. Confirm you have not owned a home in the past 3 years.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The City of Durham requires homebuyer education for DPA applicants. Reinvestment Partners offers monthly evening workshops for $50 per household. They also offer an online self-paced course. Contact Reinvestment Partners at (919) 667-1000 to register. The Durham Housing Authority also offers free homeownership counseling.
Step 3: Meet with a HUD-approved housing counselor. A counselor can help you understand which programs you qualify for and guide you through the process. Reinvestment Partners and the Durham Housing Authority both provide counseling services in the Durham area.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact a City of Durham approved participating DPA lender. Not all lenders participate in the city's program, so you must work with one from the approved list on the city's website. If you're also using NCHFA programs, make sure your lender is NCHFA-approved.
Step 5: Find a home within program requirements. The home must be located within Durham city limits and used as your primary residence. Your real estate agent and lender can help confirm whether a property qualifies.
Step 6: Submit your application. Once you have a home under contract, your lender will submit your DPA application through the Neighborly platform on your behalf. Start pre-approval early to avoid delays at closing.
Step 7: Explore alternative paths. DCLT offers affordable homes through its community land trust model — attend a Virtual Homebuyer Session (every 3rd Wednesday at noon). The NACA Homebuyer Program offers no-down-payment, no-closing-cost mortgages — attend a free NACA workshop to get started. Contact the City of Durham Community Development Department at (919) 560-4570 or dpa@durhamnc.gov for questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Durham?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify for Durham assistance?+−
What are the income limits for Durham programs?+−
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Durham?+−
What homebuyer education is required in Durham?+−
What is the Durham Community Land Trust and how does it work?+−
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