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HouseCharlotte: up to $80,000 toward a first home in Charlotte
First-time buyers earning up to 110% of area median income and buying inside Charlotte city limits can get a 0% forgivable loan of up to $80,000, depending on income and matching funds.
Fact sheet
HouseCharlotte Down Payment Assistance
Limited funds
City of Charlotte
For
First-time buyers with household income up to 110% AMI buying in Charlotte city limits
Amount
At or below 80% AMI: base up to $30,000 plus matching funds up to $50,000 (max $80,000). 80-110% AMI: base up to $10,000 plus match up to $20,000 (max $30,000). Eligible match sources: nonprofit DPA, bank-provided DPA, buyer's own DPA
Form
Forgivable loan
Income cap
110% AMI (4-person $129,150); 80% AMI tier 4-person $93,900 (City HNS matrix effective June 1, 2026)
Price cap
$365,000 (existing and new construction)
Only first-time buyers?
Yes
Other conditions
No property ownership in past 3 years (also no land or deeded timeshare interest); 8 hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling before closing (online counts for 4 hours, the other 4 must be one-on-one); certificate valid 1 year; must use a House Charlotte approved lender (lender applies); primary residence inside city limits; 0% interest, 30-year term forgiven at year 31, 30-year affordability period with recapture deed restriction. Funds can also lower the interest rate. Can often be combined with NCHFA CPLP.
DreamKey page says 'Limited Funding. Plan Ahead.' FAQ revised June 2026. City overview: https://www.charlottenc.gov/HNS/Housing/Homeowners/Pages/default.aspx. City, Mecklenburg County and CMS employees get a separate match-free tier (see occupation_specific).
Watch list: HouseCharlotte Down Payment Assistance draws on a limited pot of money that can be used up. Ask for an alert and you'll hear when a new round is funded.
How the two HouseCharlotte tiers pay out
The amount depends on which income band you fall in. At or below 80% of area median income (a 4-person household earning up to $93,900 under the June 1, 2026 matrix), the base award is up to $30,000. The program then matches other eligible help dollar for dollar up to another $50,000, for a ceiling of $80,000. Between 80% and 110% of area median (4-person limit $129,150), the base is up to $10,000 with a match of up to $20,000, for a ceiling of $30,000. Matching dollars can come from nonprofit DPA, bank-provided DPA or your own DPA funds.
The money is a 0% interest loan with a 30-year term that is forgiven at year 31. A 30-year affordability period and a recapture deed restriction apply in the meantime. You can also put the funds toward buying down your interest rate. See how forgivable help differs from a grant.
Who qualifies in Charlotte
You can't have owned property in the past 3 years, and that includes land and a deeded timeshare interest. The home must be your primary residence inside Charlotte city limits, with a price of $365,000 or less for existing and new construction alike. Before closing, you need 8 hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling: online coursework covers 4 hours, and the other 4 must be one-on-one. The certificate is good for 1 year. Mecklenburg County has several separate towns, such as Matthews and Mint Hill, so confirm the address is in the city before you make an offer. Our Mecklenburg County guide covers the wider area.
Pairing it with NCHFA help
DreamKey's materials say HouseCharlotte can often be combined with NCHFA's Community Partners Loan Pool. Nothing we verified says whether it layers on the NC Home Advantage Mortgage or the $15,000 NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment, so a participating lender confirms whether those combine. If you use both, the lower $365,000 HouseCharlotte price cap is the one that binds. City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and CMS employees have a separate match-free employee tier.
How to apply
DreamKey Partners runs the program for the City, and its page warns "Limited Funding. Plan Ahead." Start the 8-hour education early, then choose a House Charlotte approved lender, because the lender submits the application, not you. Get pre-approved, find a home at or under $365,000 inside the city, and let the lender reserve the funds. Check your eligibility to be matched with a lender who works with these programs.
HouseCharlotte Down Payment Assistance: questions and answers
How much can I get from HouseCharlotte?
Up to $80,000 if your household is at or below 80% of area median income and you bring matching funds, or up to $30,000 if you earn between 80% and 110%. The base award without a match is up to $30,000 or $10,000.
Do I have to repay HouseCharlotte?
It's a 0% loan with a 30-year term that is forgiven at year 31. A recapture deed restriction applies during the 30-year affordability period.
What is the HouseCharlotte price limit?
$365,000, for both existing homes and new construction, and the home must be inside Charlotte city limits.
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.
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