See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Summerville, SC (2026)

Population: 51,262 | Median home price: $375,000 | Est. closing costs: $7,500 - $11,500

Summerville is one of the fastest-growing towns in the Charleston metro area, located in Dorchester County, South Carolina, and known as the Flowertown in the Pines. With a median home price around $375,000, buyers here benefit from strong state-level assistance programs. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program offers up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance with income limits above $126,000 for Dorchester County, while the Palmetto Home Advantage program provides up to 4% of the loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage with no first-time buyer requirement. Teachers, nurses, veterans, and first responders can access the Palmetto Heroes Program for an additional $10,000 in forgivable assistance. Locally, the Charleston Trident Urban League serves Dorchester County with down payment and closing cost help, Founders Federal Credit Union offers no-PMI financing up to $350,000, and Dorchester Habitat for Humanity provides interest-free mortgages for qualifying families. By stacking state and local programs, Summerville buyers can significantly reduce their upfront costs.

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
Charleston Trident Urban League First-Time Homebuyer Program	Grant	Down payment and closing cost assistance (amount varies based on funding availability)	Yes	View →
Dorchester Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	No-interest mortgage with homes sold at no profit. Affordable monthly payments.	Yes	View →
Founders Federal Credit Union First-Time Homebuyer Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Finance up to $350,000 with only $1,000 minimum in the transaction; no PMI required	Yes	View →
Palmetto CAP Affordable Housing Program	Grant	Subsidized home purchase price with potential additional subsidies for qualified buyers	Yes	View →

Charleston Trident Urban League First-Time Homebuyer Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Down payment and closing cost assistance (amount varies based on funding availability)
First-time only:: Yes

Dorchester Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: No-interest mortgage with homes sold at no profit. Affordable monthly payments.
First-time only:: Yes

Founders Federal Credit Union First-Time Homebuyer Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Finance up to $350,000 with only $1,000 minimum in the transaction; no PMI required
First-time only:: Yes

Palmetto CAP Affordable Housing Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Subsidized home purchase price with potential additional subsidies for qualified buyers
First-time only:: Yes

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17 programs available in Summerville. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. For the SC Housing Homebuyer Program, the income limit for Dorchester County is above $126,000 for one or two people, and the purchase price limit is $425,000. Review current limits on the SC Housing website or call (803) 896-2211.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. SC Housing programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Call (800) 569-4287 to find a HUD-approved housing counselor near Summerville, or contact Palmetto Community Action Partnership at (843) 724-7353 at their Summerville office at 500 N Main St.

Step 3: Contact a participating lender. SC Housing works with over 100 approved lenders statewide. Ask about the SC Housing Homebuyer Program, Palmetto Home Advantage, and Palmetto Heroes (if you qualify as a teacher, nurse, veteran, or first responder). Also contact the Charleston Trident Urban League for additional down payment assistance in the tri-county area.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your lender will determine which programs you qualify for and the maximum assistance available. Have your income documentation, tax returns, and employment history ready. Consider Founders Federal Credit Union for a no-PMI first-time homebuyer mortgage up to $350,000.

Step 5: Find a home within program limits. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program has a $425,000 purchase price limit for Dorchester County. Your lender can confirm the current limits for all programs you're using.

Step 6: Submit your application and close. Once you have a signed purchase contract, your lender will process your SC Housing or other program application alongside your mortgage. Plan for a typical closing timeline of 30-45 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Summerville buyers can access multiple layers of assistance. The SC Housing Homebuyer Program offers up to $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance. The Palmetto Home Advantage program provides up to 4% of your loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage. Qualifying teachers, nurses, veterans, and first responders can access the Palmetto Heroes Program for $10,000 in forgivable assistance. The Charleston Trident Urban League also offers down payment and closing cost assistance for buyers in Dorchester County. By combining programs, you could potentially cover most or all of your down payment and closing costs on a Summerville home.

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

Not for all programs. The Palmetto Home Advantage program is available to first-time, move-up, and repeat buyers with no first-time buyer requirement. However, the SC Housing Homebuyer Program and Palmetto Heroes Program both require first-time buyer status, defined as not having owned a primary residence in the past three years. Founders Federal Credit Union also requires first-time buyer status for their no-PMI mortgage program.

What is the maximum home price I can pay in Summerville?+

The SC Housing Homebuyer Program has a purchase price limit of $425,000 for Dorchester County. The Palmetto Home Advantage program has no sales price limit. Founders Federal Credit Union allows financing up to $350,000 through their first-time homebuyer program. The Charleston Trident Urban League program limits vary by funding availability.

What homebuyer education is required?+

SC Housing programs require completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Contact HUD at (800) 569-4287 to find an approved counselor near Summerville. Palmetto Community Action Partnership at 500 N Main St, Summerville also offers homeownership training, requiring 8 hours for their affordable housing program. Dorchester Habitat for Humanity provides one-on-one financial coaching as part of their homeownership program.

What are the income limits for Summerville homebuyer programs?+

The SC Housing Homebuyer Program income limit for Dorchester County is above $126,000 for one or two-person households. The Palmetto Home Advantage program has a statewide income limit of $137,500. Dorchester Habitat for Humanity requires income between 35% and 80% of the area median income, which is approximately $37,000 to $84,000 for a family of four. Palmetto CAP requires income at or below 80% of the area median income.

Can I buy a home in Summerville with no money down?+

Yes, several paths exist. Founders Federal Credit Union offers a first-time homebuyer program with only $1,000 minimum in the transaction and no PMI on loans up to $350,000. VA loans provide 100% financing for eligible veterans and service members. USDA loans offer 100% financing in eligible rural areas near Summerville. Combining an FHA loan with SC Housing down payment assistance of up to $10,000 could also effectively eliminate your out-of-pocket down payment costs.

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Buying a home in Summerville? 17 programs could help.

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