Fact sheet
City of Raleigh Enhanced Homebuyer Assistance Program
Taking applicationsCity of Raleigh (designated target areas only)
- For
- First-time buyers at or below 80% AMI buying in the city's bond target areas
- Amount
- Up to $60,000
- Form
- Deferred loan, due when you sell
- Income cap
- 80% AMI (4-person $105,850)
- Price cap
- $450,000
- Only first-time buyers?
- Yes
- Other conditions
- Funded by the 2020 Affordable Housing Bond; home must be in a target area (map PDF and ArcGIS lookup on the page); 10-year deed restriction limits the owner's sale proceeds if sold within 10 years; same class and lender rules as the base program.
Status is inferred from the active Sep 2026 page. The page has no funding-exhausted notice, but it doesn't confirm open status either.
Last checked November 2026 · our sources
Check if I qualifyWhat makes the Enhanced program different
Raleigh runs two versions of its homebuyer loan. The Enhanced version pays more, up to $60,000 compared with $45,000, and allows a higher price, $450,000. The catch is location: the home must sit in one of the City's designated target areas. The City posts a target-area map as a PDF and an ArcGIS address lookup on its homebuyer assistance page, so check the exact address before you fall for a house. In a target area, the extra $15,000 and the higher price ceiling ($450,000, versus $389,500 or $384,750 on the base program) can open up homes the base loan can't reach.
The money is a deferred 0% loan. A 10-year deed restriction also limits how much of the sale proceeds you keep if you sell within the first 10 years. Read common DPA mistakes before you sign, because resale limits surprise many buyers. If you might move within a decade, ask the City how the restriction calculates your share before you commit.
Who can use it
You must be a first-time buyer with household income at or below 80% of area median, which is $105,850 for a four-person household. Smaller and larger households follow the same 80% table the City uses for its base loan. The class and lender rules match the base program: a homeownership class certificate and an approved lender who applies for you. The base Raleigh program lists the full income table by household size.
Layering with state help
The Enhanced loan's $450,000 cap sits below the $525,000 limit on NCHFA's $15,000 NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment. We found no statement on whether the City loan and NCHFA options can be used together, so a participating lender confirms. The Wake County guide shows NCHFA's county income limits.
Status and how to start
The City's page was active in September 2026 with no funding-exhausted notice, though it didn't confirm open status in so many words. To start, look up the address on the target-area map, take the homeownership class through DHIC, and pick a lender on the City's approved list. Check your eligibility and a loan officer can confirm the address qualifies.
County guides for this area: Wake County
City of Raleigh Enhanced Homebuyer Assistance Program: questions and answers
Where can I use Raleigh's Enhanced assistance?
Only in the City's designated target areas. The City's homebuyer assistance page has a map and an address lookup.
What is the price limit for the Enhanced program?
$450,000, higher than the base Raleigh program.
Is there a resale restriction?
Yes. A 10-year deed restriction limits your sale proceeds if you sell within 10 years.
See if I qualify for this one
Programs to compare
Drawn from the program's own web page as of November 2026. Money runs out and terms get revised, so check the latest with the program office or a lender that handles it. North Carolina Down Payment Assistance has no tie to this program.
