First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Greenville, SC (2026)
Greenville, South Carolina is a fast-growing city in the Upstate region with a thriving downtown, strong job market, and a median home price of approximately $450,000. 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, and the CommunityWorks Greenville County Down Payment Assistance with up to $10,000 in forgivable loans. At the state level, the SC Housing Homebuyer Program and Palmetto Home Advantage provide up to $10,000 and up to 4% of the loan amount respectively in forgivable assistance. The GCRA Homeownership Program also offers affordable homes with down payment help for first-time buyers in the county. By combining local, state, and federal programs, Greenville buyers can stack significant assistance to make homeownership more affordable.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Greenville
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| SC Housing Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance | Yes | 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 → |
| CommunityWorks Greenville County Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 forgivable in 8 years or up to $5,000 forgivable in 5 years | Yes | View → |
| City of Greenville Employee Homebuyer Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $50,000 in down payment and/or closing cost assistance | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage | Yes | View → |
| GCRA Homeownership Program | Forgivable Loan | Down payment assistance for affordable home purchase | Yes | View → |
| City of Spartanburg First-Time Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 | Yes | View → |
| CommunityWorks Northside Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 | Yes | View → |
- 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-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:
- 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:
- 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
- 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:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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 forgivable in 8 years or up to $5,000 forgivable in 5 years
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000 in down payment and/or closing cost assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment assistance for affordable home purchase
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
- Step 1:
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 City of Greenville Employee program requires city employment for at least one year.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. The Greenville County Human Relations Commission offers free homebuyer counseling 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.
- Step 3:
Contact a local housing partner. Reach out to CommunityWorks Carolina at 864-235-6331 or hba@cwcarolina.org for the county DPA program and City of Greenville employee program. Contact GCRA at (864) 242-9801 for their homeownership program. For Habitat for Humanity, call (864) 370-4787.
- Step 4:
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.
- Step 5:
Find a home within program limits. The CommunityWorks county program has a $425,000 purchase price cap. Note that CommunityWorks county assistance is only for properties outside the City of Greenville limits.
- Step 6:
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.