See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 22, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Clemson, SC (2026)

Population: 19,000 | Median home price: $365,000 | Est. closing costs: $7,500 - $11,000

Clemson is a vibrant college town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pickens County, South Carolina, best known as the home of Clemson University. With a median home price around $365,000, buyers here can tap into several state and federal programs to reduce upfront costs. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program offers up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance, while the Palmetto Heroes Program provides an additional $10,000 for eligible teachers, nurses, veterans, law enforcement, and first responders. Pickens County Habitat for Humanity also serves the Clemson area with zero-interest mortgages for qualifying families earning between 45% and 80% of the area median income. By stacking state programs like SC Housing with federal options such as FHA, VA, or USDA loans, Clemson buyers can significantly reduce or even eliminate their out-of-pocket costs at closing.

State Programs in South Carolina

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
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 →
Palmetto Heroes Program	Forgivable Loan	$10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance	Yes	View →
Palmetto Home Advantage	Forgivable Loan	Up to 4% of the first mortgage loan amount	No	View →
SC Housing Homebuyer Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance	Yes	View →

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

Palmetto Heroes Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance
First-time only:: Yes

Palmetto Home Advantage

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to 4% of the first mortgage loan amount
First-time only:: No

SC Housing Homebuyer Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance
First-time only:: Yes

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
Pickens County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Zero-interest mortgage on newly constructed Habitat home	No	View →

Pickens County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Zero-interest mortgage on newly constructed Habitat home
First-time only:: No

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most SC Housing programs require household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Pickens County. The Palmetto Heroes Program is available to teachers, nurses, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. SC Housing requires a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. United Housing Connections in Greenville serves the Pickens County area and can be reached at (864) 241-0462.

Step 3: Contact an SC Housing participating lender. Visit the SC Housing website at schousing.sc.gov to find a participating lender in the Clemson or Pickens County area who can help you apply for the SC Housing Homebuyer Program or Palmetto Heroes Program.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your lender will determine which loan type (FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional) best fits your situation and confirm your eligibility for down payment assistance.

Step 5: Find a home within program limits. Work with a local real estate agent to find a property that meets SC Housing purchase price limits for Pickens County.

Step 6: Submit your application and close. Once you have a signed contract, your lender will process the SC Housing down payment assistance alongside your first mortgage. Expect the process to take 30-45 days from contract to closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Clemson buyers can access up to $10,000 through the SC Housing Homebuyer Program as a forgivable loan with no monthly payments. Eligible public service workers such as teachers, nurses, veterans, and law enforcement can receive an additional $10,000 through the Palmetto Heroes Program. The Palmetto Home Advantage program also provides up to 4% of the loan amount. Combined with federal options like FHA loans (3.5% down) or USDA loans (0% down for eligible rural areas), buyers can significantly reduce their out-of-pocket costs.

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

For the SC Housing Homebuyer Program, Pickens County is classified as a non-targeted county, so you must be a first-time homebuyer or not have owned a home in the past three years. However, VA and USDA loans do not have first-time buyer requirements, and the Palmetto Heroes Program is available to qualifying public service workers regardless of prior ownership in some cases.

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

SC Housing sets purchase price limits by county. For Pickens County, check the current limits on the SC Housing website at schousing.sc.gov, as they are updated periodically. FHA, VA, and USDA loans each have their own loan limits as well.

What homebuyer education is required?+

SC Housing requires completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course before closing. United Housing Connections in Greenville serves the Pickens County area and offers counseling services. You can reach them at (864) 241-0462. Online courses through approved providers are also accepted.

Is Clemson eligible for USDA loans?+

Parts of the Clemson and Pickens County area may qualify as USDA-eligible rural zones, which would allow buyers to finance 100% of the purchase price with no down payment. Check the USDA eligibility map for your specific address to confirm. USDA loans can be combined with SC Housing down payment assistance for closing costs.

How does the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity program work?+

Pickens County Habitat for Humanity builds new homes for families earning between 45% and 80% of the Area Median Income for Pickens County. Homeowners receive a zero-interest mortgage and contribute a minimum of 200 hours of sweat equity helping build their home and other Habitat homes. Applications open periodically. Contact Pickens County Habitat for Humanity for current application status.

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