Greensboro & Guilford County Down Payment Assistance
The Triad stays more affordable than Charlotte or the Triangle, so NCHFA assistance covers a bigger share of a typical purchase. Up to 3% for any buyer, or $15,000 for first-time buyers and veterans. Here is how it works across Guilford County.
How NCHFA works in Guilford County
Greensboro and the Triad are among the more affordable metros in North Carolina, which makes NCHFA assistance especially effective here. Because homes cost less than in Charlotte or Raleigh, a flat $15,000 through NC 1st Home Advantage can cover a large slice of a Guilford County down payment and closing costs. Any buyer can take the 3% option; first-time buyers and veterans get the $15,000. The second is a zero-percent deferred lien with no monthly payment, and 640 credit qualifies.
Buying across Guilford County
Guilford County anchors the Triad with Greensboro and High Point. Inside Greensboro, east and southeast neighborhoods and the areas near NC A&T and UNCG carry affordable homes, and High Point, Jamestown, and Gibsonville round out the county. Neighboring Forsyth County (Winston-Salem), Alamance (Burlington), and Randolph (Asheboro) are common nearby markets, all NCHFA-eligible under the statewide limit. The Triad is one of the easier North Carolina markets to buy a detached home under the price cap.
Where the $15,000 stretches furthest
The Triad is exactly where NCHFA’s flat $15,000 does its best work. On a moderately priced Greensboro or High Point home, $15,000 can cover the entire down payment on an FHA loan and a good part of the closing costs, and because it forgives over years 11 through 15, a buyer who stays put never repays it. For first-time buyers and veterans in the Triad, that combination is hard to beat. See how the two options compare on our 3% vs. $15,000 page.
NCHFA sets a single statewide income limit and sales-price limits that change periodically; confirm the current figures on the NCHFA before relying on one. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Greensboro?
NCHFA offers up to 3% of the loan for any buyer, or a flat $15,000 for first-time buyers and military veterans. Because Triad prices are lower, the $15,000 covers a large share of a typical Guilford County down payment and closing costs.
Is Greensboro down payment assistance forgivable?
Yes. The NCHFA second is forgiven 20% per year in years 11 through 15, fully forgiven at 15 years. You repay it only if you sell or refinance before year 11.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Greensboro?
NCHFA requires a 640 minimum credit score. The assistance pairs with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages, and North Carolina uses a single statewide income limit.
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