South Carolina is a state where coastal charm meets Southern hospitality, from the historic streets of Charleston and the vibrant energy of Columbia to the scenic foothills around Greenville. Whether you’re drawn to the coast, the capital, or the mountains, homeownership here can be a dream for many.
To make that dream a reality, South Carolina offers a variety of down payment assistance (DPA) programs. These come in several forms including grants, forgivable loans, and low-interest second mortgages. They are all designed to reduce the upfront costs of buying a home.
This guide highlights some of the state’s most widely available and well-funded programs to help first-time and income-qualified buyers get started. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it’s a solid foundation for exploring your options. We’ll continue to update this resource as new programs emerge and existing ones evolve.
Statewide Down Payment Assistance Programs
South Carolina offers several statewide programs through SC Housing that aim to support homeownership by lowering upfront costs for buyers. These are typically accessed through participating lenders and offer assistance in the form of forgivable or deferred loans.
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SC Housing Homebuyer Program
The SC Housing Homebuyer Program offers a fixed-rate 30-year mortgage paired with generous down payment assistance, structured as a forgivable second mortgage with 0% interest and no monthly payments. The assistance is fully forgiven after 15 years of owner-occupancy.
Eligibility: Buyers in Aiken, for example,must be first-time homebuyers (or veterans), earn no more than $90,500 for 1-2 person households or $104,000 for 3+ person households, and purchase a home priced at $450,000 or less. These figures vary by county. All dollar amounts are for 2025 and may have risen by the time you read this.
County First Initiative
The County First Initiative is intended to support underserved rural communities. It offers the same benefits as the SC Housing Homebuyer Program but with a lower mortgage interest rate and broader eligibility for repeat buyers.
Eligibility: Buyers must purchase in one of the 29 designated counties, including Chester, Marlboro, and Williamsburg, and meet the same income and price limits as the SC Housing Homebuyer Program.
Palmetto Home Advantage
Palmetto Home Advantage is a flexible option for both first-time and repeat buyers, offering 3% or 4% of the loan amount as forgivable down payment assistance with no payments and a 10-year forgiveness period.
Eligibility: Household income is dependent on family size, and there is no home price cap. A minimum credit score of 640 typically required.
Down Payment Assistance Programs by County
Some counties in South Carolina operate their own DPA programs, particularly targeting lower-income households or rural homebuyers. These programs are often layered with federal funding like HOME or CDBG.
Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program (RCHAP)
The RCHAP offers up to $24,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance through a 0%-interest deferred loan with no monthly payments, fully forgivable after 5 years of owner occupancy.
Eligibility: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers purchasing in unincorporated Richland County, earn no more than $474,150 for a family of 4, and choose homes priced at or below $228,000 for an existing home or $273,000 for a new construction. All dollar amounts are for 2025 and may have risen by the time you read this.
Greenville County Homebuyer Assistance Program
Greenville County’s Program offers up to $20,000 in forgivable down payment assistance as a second mortgage, fully forgiven after 10 years of owner occupation.
Eligibility: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers purchasing outside the City of Greenville, earn no more than 80% of area median income, and buy homes priced at or below $425,000 (2025).
Down Payment Assistance Programs by City
Many South Carolina cities offer their own support for buyers purchasing within city limits. These programs often go beyond simple grants, offering creative financing models that reduce the need for traditional down payments.
City of Columbia – City Lender I
The City Lender I Program provides up to $18,500 in forgivable down payment assistance and a favorable second mortgage structure, allowing low-income buyers to purchase with as little as $500 down (regardless of price).
Eligibility: Buyers must earn no more than 80% of area median income, purchase homes priced at or below $225,000 (2025), and purchase the homes within the City of Columbia’s corporate city limits.
City of Spartanburg Homebuyer Assistance Program
The Spartanburg Homebuyer Assistance Program offers up to $20,000 in down payment and closing cost support via a deferred second mortgage that is forgiven over 20 years of owner occupation.
Eligibility: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers, purchase within city limits, earn no more than 80% of AMI, and buy homes priced at or below $237,000 (2025) for existing homes.
Northside Spartanburg DPA
This Northside Spartanburg Program provides up to $20,000 for buyers purchasing in Spartanburg’s Northside neighborhood, with expanded eligibility for school employees and local service workers.
Eligibility: Buyers must either be first-time homebuyers, District 7 employees, or designated "local heroes" earning up to 80% of AMI and purchasing within the Northside redevelopment area.
City of Rock Hill First-Time Homebuyer Program
The Rock Hill First-Time Homebuyer Program offers up to $5,000 in forgivable down payment assistance through a deferred second mortgage, with forgiveness over 5 to 20 years depending on funding.
Eligibility: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers purchasing in Rock Hill city limits, earn less than 80% of AMI, and complete homebuyer education.
Additional Down Payment Assistance Programs in South Carolina
Here are other programs that were not highlighted above but are still worth exploring.
Statewide Programs
Chenoa Fund (Nationwide program available in South Carolina)
City Programs
What Is AMI?
Many down payment assistance programs in South Carolina require applicants earn no more than a certain percentage, often 80%, of the area median income (AMI) where they're purchasing.
How it works: If you're purchasing a home in a locale where the area median income is $94,000, and the program you're applying for allows you to earn up to 80% AMI, you could have an income of as much as $75,200 and potentially qualify for assistance.
You can search for AMI by property address using the Fannie Mae AMI Lookup Tool.
Buying a Home With Down Payment Assistance
Owning a home in South Carolina means more than finding a place to live. It's about joining communities rich with Southern charm, coastal beauty, and vibrant local culture. Fortunately, a variety of down payment assistance programs across the state are making that dream more achievable for many buyers. As you prepare for your purchase, stay informed about current mortgage rates and use our loan calculators to see how different assistance options could work for you. With the right planning, you’ll be ready to open the door to homeownership in South Carolina.
