DPASEARCH.COM LENDER HOTLINE: 888-581-5008 Assistance Programs for First Time Home Buyers in Cleveland County, North Carolina If you live in North Carolina and are interested in buying a home in Cleveland County - there may be down payment assistance programs available to you. Saving enough money for a down payment is one of the single biggest obstacles to homeownership – but it is entirely possible that down payment assistance is available to you and you aren’t even aware of it. What is Down Payment Assistance? It is any kind of program that is designed to help people get into a home. That may be a very broad definition, but down payment assistance programs are not always programs that hand out free money by giving you cash in a suitcase – they can take many different forms. Some examples of the different types of down payment assistance programs that may be available include: Grants, Silent Seconds, Delayed Repayment Loans, Interest Free Loans, and Lender Specific Programs. Since there are so many different types of programs that may be available – it is advised that you find the right loan officer who is knowledgeable in programs in your area. Down Payment Assistance Programs Available in Cleveland County, North Carolina North Carolina Housing Finance Agency- Downpayment Assistance Program: $8000 DP Assistance- Must be with their First Home mortgage. Buyer pays $1000 out of pocket and the loan pays up to $8000 of the balance. Buyer must meet the sales guidelines as the First Home Mortgage. The Banks Foundation - Down Payment Assistance: The Banks Foundation is a tax-exempt organization that assists families who are moving from welfare to work and from public housing to private homeownership. Over the years, the Foundation has provided down payment assistance to families who have qualified to purchase their first home. Mortgage Programs Available in Cleveland County, North Carolina North Carolina Housing Finance Agency- Mortgage Credit Certificate Program: If you are a first-time buyer and meet certain income and sales price limits, you may be eligible for a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) worth up to $2,000 a year in tax savings. This federal tax credit can lower your income-tax liability, dollar-for-dollar, leaving you more money to use toward your mortgage. If you qualify, you will be able to claim 30% of the interest you pay on your mortgage if you purchase an existing home or 50% of the interest for a new home (never occupied) – up to $2,000 for every year you live in your home – as a tax credit on your federal income taxes. North Carolina Housing Finance Agency REO Properties for Sale: Our mission is to provide housing for North Carolinians not served by the market. While achieving success with this goal, on rare occasion properties we've financed fall into foreclosure. As a result, we have investor-owned properties for sale.