House Charlotte: Down Payment Assistance for First-Time Buyers

Real Support for Your Homebuying Journey

Limited Funding. Plan Ahead.

House Charlotte is a program from the City of Charlotte, administered by DreamKey Partners, designed to help make homeownership more within reach. 

Here’s how it can support you:

• 0% interest assistance to help cover your down payment and closing costs
• Option to lower your interest rate and reduce your monthly payment
• No monthly payments on the assistance (it’s a deferred loan)

To qualify, the program is geared toward first-time homebuyers who don’t currently own a home. Income limits apply, but many households earning up to 110% of the Area Median Income (AMI) may be eligible.

You’ll need to purchase a home within Charlotte city limits, use it as your primary residence, and stay within the $365,000 purchase price limit. Before buying, you’ll also complete a homebuyer education course to help you feel confident every step of the way.

Homeownership Is Closer Than You Think

Before you dive in, here are a few important things to understand about how House Charlotte works and how to move forward.

House Charlotte is a program offered by the City of Charlotte and administered by DreamKey Partners. It is independent of any real estate company, broker, or agent. This means you are free to work with the real estate professional you trust the most.

Once you find a home you’re interested in, your lender will assist you in applying for House Charlotte assistance on your behalf. 

Before closing on the home, all borrowers are required to complete 8 hours of homebuyer education and counseling through a HUD-approved agency. This program is designed to prepare you for homeownership, not to complicate the process.

You have several options for fulfilling this requirement:

• DreamKey Partners’ financial education program
• Call any HUD-approved agency or visit HUD-gov.
• Approved online platforms from E-Home or Framework (with additional required one-on-one counseling)
  • House Charlotte gives (4) hours of credit for online education; therefore, the remaining (4) hours should come from one-on-one counseling.

Once completed, you’ll receive a certificate that is valid for one year.

It’s important to know that while this education is required, it does not guarantee approval for funding. It’s one part of the overall process to make sure you’re ready for homeownership.

Finally, House Charlotte can often be combined with other down payment assistance programs, including the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP), which may help you maximize your support.