See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 18, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Raleigh, NC (2026)

Population: 503,000 | Median home price: $430,000 | Est. closing costs: $8,500 - $13,000

Raleigh is North Carolina's capital city and a hub of the Research Triangle, with a population exceeding 503,000 and a median home price around $430,000. First-time homebuyers in Raleigh have access to some of the strongest local assistance in the state. The City of Raleigh offers up to $45,000 in down payment and closing cost help through its Traditional Homebuyer Assistance Program, and up to $65,000 through its Enhanced program for homes in targeted areas. The NACA Homebuyer Program provides a no-down-payment, no-closing-cost mortgage at below-market rates for qualifying buyers. Combined with statewide NCHFA programs like the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment ($15,000) and federal options like FHA and VA loans, Raleigh-area buyers can stack significant assistance to make homeownership more attainable.

City Programs in Raleigh

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Raleigh Enhanced Homebuyer Assistance Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Up to $65,000	Yes	View →
Raleigh Traditional Homebuyer Assistance Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Up to $45,000	Yes	View →

Raleigh Enhanced Homebuyer Assistance Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to $65,000
First-time only:: Yes

Raleigh Traditional Homebuyer Assistance Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to $45,000
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Wake County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Wake County Affordable Homeownership Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $50,000	Yes	View →

Wake County Affordable Homeownership Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $50,000
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 →

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

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 →

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

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County Homeownership	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable below-market mortgage (Habitat builds/rehabilitates homes and sells at affordable prices)	Yes	View →
NACA Homebuyer Program	Repayable Loan	No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, plus below-market interest rate mortgage	No	View →

Habitat for Humanity of Wake County Homeownership

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable below-market mortgage (Habitat builds/rehabilitates homes and sells at affordable prices)
First-time only:: Yes

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

Free eligibility check

20 programs available in Raleigh. See which ones you qualify for.

Free
No credit check
Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

Yes No Not sure

Question 1 of 6

housebuyerguides

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 Wake County. For a family of four, that's approximately $90,650. Confirm you have not owned a home in the past 3 years.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. The City of Raleigh requires you to attend a Homeownership Class to earn a certificate. DHIC, Inc. is the city's designated counseling provider and offers these classes both in person and virtually. Contact DHIC at (919) 832-4345 to register.

Step 3: Meet with a DHIC homeownership advisor. DHIC will review your credit, income, and financial readiness. If you need time to improve your credit score or save more, they will help you build a plan. Call (919) 832-3696 to schedule.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an approved lender from the City's network. If you're also using NCHFA programs, make sure your lender is NCHFA-approved. Your lender will help determine which city, state, and federal programs you can combine.

Step 5: Find a home within program limits. For the Traditional program, the purchase price cannot exceed $384,750. For the Enhanced program (targeted areas only), the limit is $450,000. The home must be a single-family home, townhome, or condo within Raleigh city limits.

Step 6: Submit your application. Your lender and DHIC will coordinate the application for all applicable programs. Homes purchased through the program will have a 10-year deed restriction. Allow adequate processing time before closing.

Step 7: Explore NACA as an alternative. If you prefer a no-down-payment, no-closing-cost mortgage, attend a free NACA homebuyer workshop and work with a NACA counselor to get qualified. NACA has a local office serving the Raleigh-Durham area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Raleigh?+

Raleigh offers two tiers of city-funded assistance. The Traditional Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to $45,000 in zero-interest deferred loans for down payment and closing costs. The Enhanced program provides up to $65,000 for homes in targeted geographic areas within Raleigh. These can be layered with state programs like the NC Home Advantage Mortgage (up to 3% DPA) and the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment ($15,000) for even more help. Alternatively, the NACA Homebuyer Program offers a no-down-payment, no-closing-cost mortgage at below-market rates.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify for Raleigh assistance?+

Yes. Both the Traditional and Enhanced Homebuyer Assistance Programs require you to be a first-time homebuyer, meaning you have not owned a home as your primary residence in the past 3 years. The NACA Homebuyer Program is available to both first-time and repeat buyers. Some state programs, like the NC Home Advantage Mortgage, are also available to repeat buyers.

What is the maximum home price I can pay using Raleigh programs?+

For the Traditional Homebuyer Assistance Program, the purchase price cannot exceed $384,750. For the Enhanced program (available only in targeted areas), the limit is $450,000. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage itself has no NCHFA sales price limit (the loan type's limits apply), while the $15,000 NC 1st Home Advantage has county-based price limits. The NACA program does not have a set purchase price limit but the home must be affordable based on your budget.

What are the income limits for Raleigh programs?+

Both Raleigh city programs require household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Wake County. For 2025, the limits are approximately $63,350 for one person, $72,400 for two, $81,450 for three, and $90,650 for a family of four. The NACA program does not have strict income limits but is designed for low-to-moderate income borrowers.

What is DHIC and why do I need to contact them?+

DHIC, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that the City of Raleigh contracts with to provide homeownership counseling and education. You must complete a homeownership class through DHIC to qualify for Raleigh assistance programs. DHIC also helps with credit counseling, financial planning, and connecting you to lenders. They offer workshops both in person and virtually. Contact them at (919) 832-4345.

Are there programs for Wake County buyers outside Raleigh city limits?+

The Wake County Affordable Homeownership Program normally offers up to $50,000 in forgivable down payment assistance for first-time buyers in Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon. However, this program is currently paused and is expected to reopen on July 1, 2026. Raleigh city limits and Cary are excluded from this program since they have their own.