South Carolina Down Payment Assistance

12 Programs
to Help You Buy a Property
in South Carolina

Grants, forgivable loans, and subsidized mortgages — many South Carolina buyers qualify for $18,500+ in assistance and don't even know it.

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5
State programs
7
Federal programs
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South Carolina Programs

Click any program for full details, eligibility, and how to apply.

SC Housing Homebuyer Program South Carolina
Forgivable DPA, forgiven over 15 years

30-year fixed + forgivable 0% DPA. Forgiven monthly over 15 years. FHA, VA, USDA, conventional.

Forgivable loan
Palmetto Home Advantage South Carolina
3-4% forgivable — repeat buyers welcome

3-4% forgivable DPA at 0%. Forgiven over 10 years. All 46 counties. NOT first-time buyer required.

Forgivable loanHouse-hack eligible
SC Palmetto Heroes 2026 South Carolina
$10,000

$10,000 forgivable DPA for teachers, nurses, police, firefighters, vets, and military.

Forgivable loan
SC County First SC (rural counties)
$8,500

Up to $8,500 forgivable DPA for buyers in 23 eligible rural counties.

Forgivable loan
SC Mortgage Tax Credit South Carolina
30% of interest = ~$2K/year tax credit

30% of annual mortgage interest as federal tax credit, up to $2,000/year for the life of the loan.

Annual tax credit
FHA Loan Federal
Saves ~$33,000 on a $200K home vs 20% down

3.5% down payment with 580+ credit. The most popular first-time buyer loan in America.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
VA Loan Federal
$0 down + no monthly mortgage insurance

Zero down payment, no PMI for eligible veterans and active-duty service members.

Federal benefitHouse-hack eligible
USDA Rural Development Loan Federal
$0 down, lower fees than FHA

Zero down payment for rural and suburban areas. 97% of US land qualifies.

Subsidized loan
Fannie Mae HomeReady Federal
3% down + reduced PMI rates

3% down with reduced mortgage insurance for low-to-moderate income buyers.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
Freddie Mac Home Possible Federal
3% down + flexible funding

3% down with flexible funding sources including gifts and employer assistance.

Subsidized loanHouse-hack eligible
NACA Program National
$0 down + $0 closing + $0 PMI + below-market rate

No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, below-market rate. Character-based lending.

Nonprofit programHouse-hack eligible
HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Federal
50% discount on HUD homes

50% off purchase price for teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs.

Grant
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Frequently asked questions

What down payment assistance programs are available in South Carolina?

There are 5 state-specific programs and 7 federal programs available in South Carolina, totaling 12 programs.

Do I need to be a first-time buyer to get DPA in South Carolina?

Not all programs require first-time buyer status. Several South Carolina programs are available to repeat buyers. 'First-time buyer' means you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years.

Can I use DPA to buy a multi-unit property?

Yes. Many DPA programs allow 1-4 unit properties. Live in one unit and rent the others — this is called house-hacking.

Nearby states

North Carolina (6)Georgia (8)