NC Home Advantage Mortgage with Down Payment Assistance · Catawba County
Catawba County, North Carolina: down payment help, step by step
Catawba County, centered on Hickory, Newton and Conover, gives its teachers and first responders full access to NCHFA's forgivable help.
Step 1: Know the local market
Catawba County has three school systems: Catawba County Schools, Hickory Public Schools and Newton-Conover City Schools. Public safety employers include the Hickory Police Department, Catawba County Sheriff's Office, Hickory Fire Department and Catawba County EMS.
Hickory is the largest city, while Newton serves as the county seat and Maiden and Claremont offer small-town living. Many homes here sit under the $525,000 cap, so a first-time buyer can often use the full $15,000.
No co-signers are allowed with NCHFA loans, so everyone on the loan must live in the home. Plan with your loan officer if you were counting on a parent's help.
Step 2: Check the Catawba County caps
| Income cap, 1 or 2 people | Income cap, 3 or more | Highest price allowed |
|---|---|---|
| $117,000 | $137,000 | $525,000 |
Catawba County's $15,000-option price cap is $525,000. The family income limit is $117,000 for 1 or 2 people and $137,000 for households of 3 or more. Statewide figures are in the limits table; to test a price against your income, use the budget calculator.
Step 3: Add local help in Catawba County
Our last check turned up no program run just for Catawba County. The statewide options still work here. Open the North Carolina program directory.
Step 4: Book your homebuyer class near Catawba County
Plan on a homebuyer class; most programs want the certificate in hand before you close. Below are HUD-approved agencies within driving distance of Catawba County, with the services, languages and meeting formats each one lists.
| Counseling agency | Town | Miles | Services | Spoken in | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Piedmont Council of Governments | Hickory | 10 mi | pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Community Foundations | Mooresville | 24 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
| City of Gastonia | Gastonia | 27 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Cleveland County Community Development Corporation | Shelby | 32 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Prosperity Unlimited, Inc | Kannapolis | 37 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
Pulled from the HUD housing counseling directory. Ask before you enroll, because programs differ on which classes count.
Major public employers in Catawba County
Some of the larger schools and public safety agencies here:
- Catawba County Schools
- Hickory Public Schools
- Newton-Conover City Schools
- Hickory Police Department
- Catawba County Sheriff's Office
- Hickory Fire Department
- Catawba County EMS
Any eligible Catawba County buyer qualifies. NCHFA doesn't check your job. Every job the program covers
Catawba County: questions and answers
Can my parents co-sign?
No. Co-signers and non-occupant borrowers aren't allowed.
Do Newton-Conover teachers qualify?
Yes, as do teachers in the other two districts and any eligible buyer.
How is the $15,000 repaid?
It's a 0% deferred second mortgage forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11 through 15. You repay the unforgiven part only if you sell or refinance early.
Nearby county guides: Wake CountyMecklenburg CountyGuilford CountyForsyth CountyDurham CountyCumberland CountyBuncombe CountyUnion County All counties
