See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Winston-Salem, NC (2026)

Population: 252,975 | Median home price: $290,000 | Est. closing costs: $6,000 - $8,500

Winston-Salem is the second-largest city in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad region, offering a growing job market anchored by healthcare, education, and manufacturing. With a median home price around $290,000, the city is more affordable than many NC metros. First-time buyers in Winston-Salem can access the City's Homebuyer Assistance Program offering up to $14,800 as a forgivable loan, the Forsyth County AHOP-HOME program providing up to $22,000 in deferred down payment assistance, and the New Century IDA matched savings program through Experiment in Self-Reliance offering up to a 6:1 match on savings. Combined with state programs like the NC Home Advantage mortgage with up to $15,000 in DPA, buyers who stack multiple programs can significantly reduce their out-of-pocket costs at closing.

City Programs in Winston-Salem

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Winston-Salem Homebuyer Assistance Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $14,800 or 20% of purchase price, whichever is lower	Yes	View →

Winston-Salem Homebuyer Assistance Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $14,800 or 20% of purchase price, whichever is lower
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Forsyth County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Forsyth County AHOP-HOME Down Payment Assistance	Deferred Loan	Up to $22,000 or 20% of sales price, whichever is less	Yes	View →
Forsyth County Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)	Deferred Loan	Varies based on need	Yes	View →

Forsyth County AHOP-HOME Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $22,000 or 20% of sales price, whichever is less
First-time only:: Yes

Forsyth County Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Varies based on need
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 Forsyth County Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable 30-year mortgage on a Habitat-built home	Yes	View →
New Century IDA Matched Savings Program	Grant	Up to 6:1 match on savings (save $2,000, receive up to $12,000)	Yes	View →

Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable 30-year mortgage on a Habitat-built home
First-time only:: Yes

New Century IDA Matched Savings Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to 6:1 match on savings (save $2,000, receive up to $12,000)
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

20 programs available in Winston-Salem. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Winston-Salem programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income. The Forsyth County AHOP-HOME program requires a minimum 640 credit score. Verify current income limits with Forsyth County at 336-703-2680.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Contact Financial Pathways of the Piedmont's Center for Homeownership at 888-474-8015 to enroll in a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. This is required for all local programs.

Step 3: Explore matched savings. If you have time before purchasing, contact Experiment in Self-Reliance at 336-722-9400 ext. 160 to learn about the New Century IDA matched savings program, which can match your savings up to 6:1 toward a down payment.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an NCHFA-approved lender to access the NC Home Advantage mortgage and up to $15,000 in state down payment assistance. A list of participating lenders is available through NCHFA.

Step 5: Apply for local down payment assistance. Submit applications for the Winston-Salem Homebuyer Assistance Program (up to $14,800) and the Forsyth County AHOP-HOME program (up to $22,000). Funds are first-come, first-served, so apply early. Contact the City at 336-727-8000.

Step 6: Find a home and close. Work with your real estate agent to find a home within program price limits. Your lender and housing counselor will coordinate the closing process and ensure all assistance funds are applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Winston-Salem?+

Winston-Salem buyers can stack several programs for significant assistance. The City of Winston-Salem Homebuyer Assistance Program offers up to $14,800 as a forgivable loan. The Forsyth County AHOP-HOME program provides up to $22,000 as a 0% deferred loan. The state NC 1st Home Advantage program offers up to $15,000 in DPA. The New Century IDA matched savings program through Experiment in Self-Reliance can match your savings up to 6:1. Combined, eligible buyers could potentially access over $50,000 in assistance.

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

Most local programs in Winston-Salem do require first-time buyer status, meaning you cannot currently own a home. The City of Winston-Salem program, Forsyth County AHOP-HOME, and the Habitat for Humanity program all require first-time buyer status. However, FHA, VA, and USDA federal loan programs do not require first-time buyer status, and some state programs define first-time buyer as someone who has not owned a home in the past three years.

What is the maximum home price I can pay?+

The City of Winston-Salem program caps assistance at 20% of the purchase price. The Forsyth County AHOP-HOME program also caps at 20% of the sales price. For state programs, the NCHFA sets purchase price limits that vary by county. Contact NCHFA or a participating lender for current Forsyth County purchase price limits.

What homebuyer education is required?+

All local Winston-Salem programs require completion of homebuyer education before closing. Financial Pathways of the Piedmont operates the Center for Homeownership at 888-474-8015, which offers HUD-approved courses covering mortgage applications, home inspections, budgeting, and maintenance. The New Century IDA program through Experiment in Self-Reliance also includes its own economic literacy and homebuyer training.

What is the Forsyth County IDA matched savings program?+

The New Century IDA program, run by Experiment in Self-Reliance, is a matched savings account program. You save money over time, and the program matches your savings between 2:1 and 6:1. For example, if you save $2,000, you could receive up to $12,000 in matching funds at closing. The program includes a Success Coach, economic literacy training, and monthly classes. Contact ESR at 336-722-9400 ext. 160 to learn more.

Can I use Habitat for Humanity to buy a home in Winston-Salem?+

Yes. Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County builds affordable homes and offers them to qualifying families through an affordable 30-year mortgage. You must have household income between 45% and 80% of AMI, have lived in Forsyth County for at least 12 months, and be willing to contribute 300-400 sweat equity hours. Contact Habitat Forsyth at 336-306-8424 or visit their office at 1023 West 14th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.