The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) does not make the first mortgage itself. Its programs sit on top of the loan you get from a participating lender, so a Wilson County buyer can pair a USDA, FHA, VA or conventional loan with NCHFA help toward the down payment and closing costs.
Wilson County NCHFA Down Payment Assistance Estimator
See an estimated monthly payment and how the 3% assistance, the $15,000 1st Home Advantage or the Community Partners Loan Pool change your cash to close.
Starts at 7.24%, the Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year fixed average for the week of Oct 29, 2026. An example, not a quote.
NC Down-Payment Assistance
These are three separate programs — a buyer qualifies for one, based on eligibility (first-time-buyer/veteran status, household income, or working with a specific partner agency), not on which number is larger. NC Home Advantage Mortgage and NC 1st Home Advantage are 0%, deferred second mortgages, not grants — repayment can become due under certain conditions, such as selling or refinancing. Community Partners Loan Pool terms are set by the partnering local agency. Confirm your household's exact eligibility and current terms with a participating lender.
*Illustrative only. Verify all figures with a lender before relying on them.
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Forgiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage | Up to 3% of the loan amount | First-time and move-up buyers; income up to $158K (statewide); no NCHFA price limit; 640+ credit | 0% deferred, forgiven 20% a year in years 11 to 15 |
| NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment | A fixed $15,000 in place of the 3% | First-time buyers, veterans or targeted tracts; Wilson County income up to $117K (1 to 2 people) or $137K (3+); price up to $525K | Same years 11 to 15 schedule |
| Mortgage Credit Certificate | No longer offered | No longer offered | N/A |
| Community Partners Loan Pool | Up to 25% of price (capped at $50K) | Low and moderate income, applied for through a CPLP member (a nonprofit or local-government agency) | Not forgiven: 0%, deferred, repaid on sale, cash-out refinance, move-out or end of term |
The programs, in detail
NC Home Advantage Mortgage: the base product
A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with down-payment assistance of up to 3% of the loan amount, as a 0% deferred second mortgage forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11 to 15.
- Who qualifies: a home in North Carolina you occupy as your main home within 60 days; household income up to $158,000 (one statewide limit); a credit score of 640 or higher (660 for manufactured homes); and an FHA, USDA, VA or conventional loan through a participating lender.
- First-time and move-up buyers are both eligible. NCHFA sets no sales-price limit of its own here; the underlying loan's limit applies. Debt-to-income can't exceed 45%.
NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment: $15,000
A fixed $15,000 with the NC Home Advantage Mortgage, in place of the 3% (the two can't be combined). Same forgivable structure.
- Who qualifies: first-time buyers (no principal residence owned in the past three years), military veterans, or buyers in a targeted census tract.
- In Wilson County: household income up to $117,000 for 1 to 2 people and $137,000 for 3 or more. Sales price up to $525,000, the same statewide. Limits effective June 15, 2026.
- First-time buyers complete a short homebuyer education course before closing.
Mortgage Credit Certificate: no longer offered
No longer offered: NCHFA lists the Mortgage Credit Certificate as no longer an active program (NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program Guide, July 2026). Verified as of 2026-10-25 (NCHFA program guide).
Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)
For low- and moderate-income buyers, the CPLP can provide up to 25% of the purchase price (capped at $50,000) as a 0% deferred second mortgage alongside an NC Home Advantage Mortgage. It is applied for through a CPLP member, which sizes the amount, and NCHFA sets the terms. It is not forgiven, and it can be combined with either the 3% or the $15,000.
Targeted census tracts in Wilson County
NCHFA's list includes 5 Wilson County tracts (0002.00, 0003.00, 0007.01, 0007.02, 0008.01; as of October 25, 2026). Buying in one waives the first-time-buyer rule; income, price and credit limits still apply. Check an address on the FFIEC geocoder. NCHFA's list · FFIEC geocoder.
Not sure which program fits?
Send me your situation and I'll map the Wilson County options.
Tell me your household size, rough income and price range. I'll tell you which NCHFA program fits, which Wilson County listings sit inside the limits, and which participating lenders to call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use NCHFA assistance with a USDA or FHA loan?
Yes. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage works with FHA, USDA, VA and conventional loans through a participating lender, and the down-payment assistance layers on top of that loan.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Not for the base NC Home Advantage Mortgage: move-up buyers qualify too. The $15,000 1st Home Advantage Down Payment is for first-time buyers, veterans, or buyers in a targeted census tract.
Do I ever have to pay the assistance back?
The 3% and the $15,000 are 0% forgivable second mortgages (loans, not grants). You repay them only if you sell, refinance or transfer the home, or stop living in it as your main home, before year 15. They are forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11 to 15. A Community Partners Loan Pool loan is different: it is not forgiven and is repaid on sale, cash-out refinance, move-out or the end of the term.
What are the income and price limits in Wilson County?
The NC Home Advantage Mortgage has a single statewide income limit of $158,000 and no NCHFA sales-price limit; the underlying loan's limit applies. The $15,000 program caps sales price at $525,000 statewide, and in Wilson County caps income at $117,000 for 1 to 2 person households and $137,000 for 3 or more. NCHFA limits effective June 15, 2026.
What credit score do I need?
640 or higher (660 for manufactured homes).
Is this financial advice?
No. This is general information. NCHFA program terms, limits and availability change; confirm current details with NCHFA and a participating lender before relying on them.