See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 21, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Greenville, SC (2026)
Greenville is a fast-growing city in South Carolina's Upstate region with a thriving downtown, strong job market, and a median home price of approximately $330,000. First-time homebuyers in Greenville can access several assistance programs, including the City of Greenville Employee Homebuyer Assistance offering up to $50,000 in forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance for city employees, and the CommunityWorks Greenville County Down Payment Assistance providing up to $20,000 in forgivable loans for buyers in the county. The GCRA Homeownership Program builds affordable homes and offers down payment help, backed by a $2 million county allocation. At the state level, the SC Housing Homebuyer Program provides up to $10,000 in forgivable DPA with Greenville County income limits of $97,300 for 1-2 persons, the Palmetto Home Advantage offers up to 4% of the loan amount for both first-time and repeat buyers, and the Palmetto Heroes Program provides $10,000 for public service professionals and military members. Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County also partners with qualifying families on zero-interest mortgages. By combining local, state, and federal programs, Greenville buyers can stack significant assistance toward homeownership.
City Programs in Greenville
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Greenville Employee Homebuyer Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $50,000 in down payment and/or closing cost assistance | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000 in down payment and/or closing cost assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
County Programs in Greenville County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCRA Homeownership Program | Forgivable Loan | Down payment assistance for affordable home purchase. GCRA received $2M county allocation including $1M for workforce housing DPA. | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment assistance for affordable home purchase. GCRA received $2M county allocation including $1M for workforce housing DPA.
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in South Carolina
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 4% of the first mortgage loan amount
- First-time only:
- No
- 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 → |
| 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+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | 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:
- 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CommunityWorks Greenville County Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. Review income limits for your household size. Most programs require first-time homebuyer status, meaning you have not owned a home in the past three years. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program has Greenville County income limits of $97,300 for 1-2 persons and $111,895 for 3 or more persons, with a $450,000 purchase price limit.
Complete homebuyer education. The Greenville County Human Relations Commission offers free homebuyer counseling through the KEY Homeownership Program as a HUD-approved agency. Contact them at 864-467-7095. Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County also offers 25 hours of personal finance and homebuyer classes.
Contact a local housing partner. Reach out to CommunityWorks Carolina at 864-235-6331 or hba@cwcarolina.org for the county DPA program (currently on waitlist with funds expected mid-2026). Contact GCRA at (864) 242-9801 for their homeownership program. For Habitat for Humanity, call (864) 370-4787.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an SC Housing-approved lender to qualify for state programs like Palmetto Home Advantage or the SC Housing Homebuyer Program, which offer below-market interest rates and forgivable DPA.
Find a home within program limits. The CommunityWorks county program has a $425,000 purchase price cap and is only for properties outside the City of Greenville limits. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program has a $450,000 purchase price limit.
Submit your application and close on your home. Processing times vary by program. The CommunityWorks county program is currently on a waitlist with funds expected mid-2026, so plan ahead and explore state programs that have active funding.