See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →House Charlotte Program
How much assistance
Up to $30,000 for households at or below 80% AMI; up to $10,000 for households at 80-110% AMI. Up to $80,000 for qualifying City of Charlotte employees. Up to $17,000 in select high-cost neighborhoods. (Forgivable Loan)
0% interest deferred forgivable second mortgage. Pro-rated forgiveness at 20% per year starting at year 5; fully forgiven after 10 years of owner-occupancy. Repayment of unforgiven balance required if sold, refinanced, or transferred before full forgiveness period.
Eligibility
- Income limits: Household income at or below 110% of Area Median Income (AMI) for Mecklenburg County. Three tiers: at or below 80% AMI (up to $30,000), 80-110% AMI (up to $10,000), and City of Charlotte employees at or below 80% AMI (up to $80,000).
- Purchase price limit: $365,000
- First-time buyer required: Yes — HUD definition — have not owned a home as primary residence in the past 3 years
- Geographic restrictions: Must purchase within Charlotte city limits (Mecklenburg County)
- Homebuyer education required: Yes
How to Apply for House Charlotte Program
Step 1: Confirm you meet House Charlotte eligibility requirements. Your household income must be at or below 110% of the Area Median Income, and you must be purchasing a home within Charlotte city limits. The maximum purchase price is $300,000 for existing homes and $315,000 for new construction.
Step 2: Complete 8 hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education. DreamKey Partners administers the House Charlotte Program and offers the required course, which includes 4 hours of online education (E-Home or Framework only) and 4 hours of one-on-one counseling. Call DreamKey Partners at 704-342-0933 or Community Link at 704-943-9517 to register. Your certificate is valid for one year.
Step 3: Get pre-approved with a House Charlotte participating lender. Not all lenders participate in this program. Contact the DreamKey Partners House Charlotte Team at 704-705-3999 for a current list of approved lenders.
Step 4: Find a home within Charlotte city limits that meets the purchase price cap and is located in a House Charlotte eligible neighborhood. Use the House Charlotte Eligibility Map on the City of Charlotte website to verify a specific address qualifies.
Step 5: Have your lender submit a House Charlotte reservation request on your behalf. Reservations are issued on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum of 20 reservations per month. Funding is subject to availability, so have a backup financing plan ready in case funds are not available at the time of your request.
Notes
City-funded through Charlotte Housing Trust Fund and federal CDBG/HOME funds. Can be layered with NC Home Advantage Mortgage + NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment ($15,000) + CPLP for significant combined assistance. DreamKey Partners is the designated administrator for Charlotte/Mecklenburg area. Higher $17,000 tier available in select high-cost neighborhoods — verify specific neighborhoods with DreamKey. City of Charlotte employee tier ($80,000) available to qualifying public service employees including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Department, Mecklenburg County Medical, and CATS (Charlotte Transit System). Credit score minimum not specified; likely defers to underlying first mortgage requirements (640 for NC Home Advantage). Amounts updated March 2026 based on multiple public sources; verify current amounts with DreamKey Partners at (704) 371-9030.