Income and price limits
North Carolina income and home price limits
The NC Home Advantage Mortgage has one simple income limit: $158,000 anywhere in the state. The $15,000 option adds a $525,000 price cap and county-by-county income limits.
- Find the area where you plan to buy.
- Add up the yearly income of everyone on the loan.
- Compare it with the cap for your household size, then check the price column.
NC Home Advantage Mortgage with 3% help
Your qualifying income must be $158,000 or less. That limit is the same in all 100 counties and doesn't change with household size, per NCHFA's July 2026 program guide. NCHFA sets no sales price limit for this option. Only the normal FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loan limits apply.
NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment ($15,000)
The home's sales price and the loan amount can each be up to $525,000, statewide. The income test is separate and depends on your county and household size. NCHFA sets one limit for households of 1 or 2 people and a higher one for 3 or more. In the 20 counties below, the 1 to 2 person limit runs from $101,000 in Brunswick County to $132,000 in Wake and Johnston, and the 3+ limit runs from $116,000 to $152,000. Many counties, including Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cumberland and Onslow, sit at $117,000 for 1 to 2 people.
Community Partners Loan Pool
For extra help through a CPLP member organization, household income must be at or below 80% of area median income for your area.
What counts as income
For the $158,000 limit, NCHFA looks at qualifying income, the income your lender uses to approve the loan. The $15,000 option counts total family income: the income of everyone on the title plus a spouse. Your loan officer can tell you which earnings count for each.
NC 1st Home Advantage income limits by county
| Where | Income cap, household of 1 or 2 | Income cap, household of 3 or more | Highest price allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | $132,000 | $152,000 | $525,000 |
| Mecklenburg County | $117,000 | $135,000 | $525,000 |
| Guilford County | $110,000 | $126,000 | $525,000 |
| Forsyth County | $103,000 | $118,000 | $525,000 |
| Durham County | $129,000 | $149,000 | $525,000 |
| Cumberland County | $117,000 | $137,000 | $525,000 |
| Buncombe County | $103,000 | $118,000 | $525,000 |
| Union County | $117,000 | $135,000 | $525,000 |
| Johnston County | $132,000 | $152,000 | $525,000 |
| Cabarrus County | $117,000 | $135,000 | $525,000 |
| Gaston County | $117,000 | $135,000 | $525,000 |
| New Hanover County | $109,000 | $125,000 | $525,000 |
| Onslow County | $117,000 | $137,000 | $525,000 |
| Iredell County | $107,000 | $123,000 | $525,000 |
| Alamance County | $114,000 | $131,000 | $525,000 |
| Pitt County | $114,000 | $131,000 | $525,000 |
| Davidson County | $117,000 | $136,000 | $525,000 |
| Brunswick County | $101,000 | $116,000 | $525,000 |
| Catawba County | $117,000 | $137,000 | $525,000 |
| Rowan County | $117,000 | $137,000 | $525,000 |
Figures come from NCHFA Home Buyer Income Limits: NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment total family income by county ($525,000 sales price and loan limit) (effective Nov 6, 2026 (date retrieved from NCHFA's county selector)). These caps get updated; your lender will use whatever figure is current when you apply.
