North Carolina offers three down-payment assistance programs most Martin County buyers should know about: NC 1st Home Advantage, NC Home Advantage Mortgage, and the Community Partners Loan Pool. None of them replace your primary mortgage — all three stack on top of USDA, FHA, VA, or conventional financing.
NC 1st Home Advantage
- What it is: a 0% deferred second mortgage — no monthly payment — that provides down-payment and closing-cost assistance.
- Amount: a flat $15,000.
- Forgiveness: the assistance is forgiven at a rate of 20% per year over years 11–15 of residence, provided the borrower doesn't sell, refinance, or vacate the home first.
NC Home Advantage Mortgage
- What it is: a companion first mortgage program whose down-payment assistance is a separate, 0% deferred second mortgage, sized to the loan itself rather than a flat figure.
- Amount: up to 3% of the loan amount.
- Eligibility: broader than the flat program above — worth checking even if you don't qualify as a first-time buyer.
Community Partners Loan Pool — a third option, through a local partner agency
The Community Partners Loan Pool offers up to 25% of the sales price, capped at $50,000 — a genuinely larger figure than the other two programs, but it runs through a specific partnering local agency rather than being available to every buyer statewide. It can be combined with either the 3% or the $15,000. Ask a participating NCHFA lender whether a Community Partners Loan Pool agency operates in Martin County before counting on this option.
Martin County NCHFA Down Payment Assistance Estimator
See your estimated monthly payment plus how one of three real down-payment assistance programs reduces your actual 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 1st Home Advantage | $15,000 flat | First-time buyers or veterans | Forgiven 20% a year, years 11–15 |
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage | Up to 3% of loan amount as DPA | Broader buyer pool, not limited to first-time | Forgiven 20% a year, years 11–15 |
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | Up to 25% of price (capped $50K) | Partner-agency territory, income-eligible | Not forgiven (0%, deferred; terms set by NCHFA) |
| NC Home Advantage Tax Credit (MCC) | No longer offered | No longer offered | No longer offered |
Eligibility basics
| First-time buyer requirement | Required for NC 1st Home Advantage, waived for qualifying veterans; not required for NC Home Advantage Mortgage; Community Partners Loan Pool eligibility is set by the partner agency |
|---|---|
| Income limits | NC Home Advantage Mortgage: $158,000 statewide. NC 1st Home Advantage, Martin County: $117,000 (1–2 people), $137,000 (3 or more), for locks on or after June 15, 2026 |
| Purchase price limits | No NCHFA limit on NC Home Advantage Mortgage; $525,000 statewide for NC 1st Home Advantage — rarely a constraint given Martin County's pricing |
| Homebuyer education | Required for most NCHFA-assisted loans |
These figures change periodically.
Have a specific address in mind?
Travis will check which NCHFA track fits your scenario.
Send the address and a little about your situation, and Travis will flag which of the three NCHFA programs you're most likely to qualify for before you talk to a lender.
FAQs
Is NCHFA assistance available in Martin County?
Yes — these down-payment assistance programs (NC 1st Home Advantage, NC Home Advantage Mortgage, and the Community Partners Loan Pool) are available to eligible buyers anywhere in North Carolina, including Martin County, though the Community Partners Loan Pool is limited to partner-agency territory.
Which of the three programs applies to me?
Eligibility, not the dollar amount, decides it. NC 1st Home Advantage ($15,000 flat) is aimed at first-time buyers and veterans; NC Home Advantage Mortgage (up to 3% of the loan amount) has broader eligibility; the two can't be combined with each other. The Community Partners Loan Pool (up to 25% of the sales price, max $50,000) runs through a specific local partner agency and can be combined with either one. Confirm with a participating lender which program fits your situation.
Can this assistance be combined with USDA or FHA?
Yes. These down-payment assistance programs are designed to layer on top of a primary mortgage — USDA, FHA, VA, or conventional — not replace it. Eligibility rules (income limits, first-time buyer status in most cases, purchase price limits) apply on top of your primary loan program's own requirements.
What happened to the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)?
The NC Home Advantage Tax Credit (Mortgage Credit Certificate) was a federal tax credit against mortgage interest paid. 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.
Is this financial advice?
No. This page is general information. Program terms, assistance amounts, and eligibility rules are set by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and its partner agencies, and can change.