Homebuyer Programs in Greer, SC (2026)
Greer is one of the fastest-growing cities in Upstate South Carolina, straddling both Greenville and Spartanburg counties with easy access to BMW, GSP International Airport, and the I-85 corridor. With a median home price around $335,000, Greer buyers benefit from a strong lineup of county-level and state programs. The CommunityWorks Greenville County Down Payment Assistance program offers up to $10,000 in forgivable DPA for properties in Greenville County outside the City of Greenville, which includes most of Greer. The GCRA Homeownership Program also provides down payment assistance for first-time buyers in Greenville County municipalities including Greer. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program and Palmetto Heroes Program add forgivable state-level assistance on top of local options. Both Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County and Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg serve Greer residents depending on which county their property falls in. By stacking local, state, and federal programs, Greer homebuyers can substantially reduce their upfront costs.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Greer
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
| 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 → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage and affordable monthly payments | 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 → |
| SC Housing Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance | 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
- 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
- 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
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage and affordable monthly payments
- 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 in forgivable down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Determine your county. Greer straddles Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Your eligible programs depend on which county your property is in. Check the property address to confirm.
- Step 2:
Check your eligibility. Review income limits for the CommunityWorks DPA program (up to 120% AMI for Greenville County properties) and SC Housing programs. Most local programs require first-time buyer status.
- Step 3:
Complete homebuyer education. The Greenville County Human Relations Commission offers HUD-approved homebuyer education classes required for GCRA and CommunityWorks programs. SC Housing programs also require homebuyer education and a minimum 640 credit score.
- Step 4:
Contact a local housing partner. For Greenville County properties, contact CommunityWorks at (864) 235-6331 or GCRA at (864) 242-9801. For Spartanburg County properties, contact Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg. For Habitat of Greenville County, visit habitatgreenville.org.
- Step 5:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with an SC Housing-approved lender for state DPA options, or a local lender for FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional financing. CommunityWorks requires a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage.
- Step 6:
Find a home within program guidelines. CommunityWorks allows purchase prices up to $425,000 in Greenville County. SC Housing has county-specific limits. The home must be your primary residence.
- Step 7:
Close on your home. Down payment assistance from CommunityWorks is structured as a forgivable zero-interest second loan (5-year or 8-year forgiveness). State DPA is also a forgivable second mortgage. Maintain primary residence status through the full forgiveness period.