Home Starts Here.
We’re helping make home ownership a possibility for North Carolinians.
The NC Housing Finance Agency has helped over 150,000 North Carolinians purchase their first home, because we believe that home is for everyone.
We offer a variety of programs that help make home buying affordable for North Carolinians, especially first-time home buyers and military veterans. With us, home starts here!
Home Buyer Products
Learn more about our array of financing options to make buying a new home affordable or see if you’re eligible for support.
NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment
If you are a first-time home buyer or eligible military veteran and qualify for an NC Home Advantage Mortgage™, you may be eligible for $15,000 in down payment assistance with the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment.
NC Home Advantage Mortgage™
Do you need home-buying assistance? It is our goal to make it simpler by offering affordable mortgage options for first-time and move-up buyers as well as eligible military veterans. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ offers up to 3% of the loan amount to purchase your new home and can be structured as an FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loan.
June is Home Ownership Month!
We are dedicated to helping North Carolinians obtain affordable home ownership this month, and all year round.
Not sure where to start on your home buying journey?
There’s a lot to know when it comes to buying your first home, but the NC Housing Finance Agency is here for you every step of the way.
Our free Guide to Home Ownership will walk you through every step of the process, showing you how to make the home buying process as easy, efficient and exciting as possible. We even have a personal checklist that you can follow and take notes on along the way.
Your first home is closer than you think!
Home Starts Here.
The NC Housing Finance Agency will help you find a lender, pick the right products for you, and make your home ownership dreams possible.
Home Buying FAQs
Is it better to buy or rent?
Buying a home is an exciting thing, however, the decision to move from renting to buying is a big one that requires thoughtful thinking and a lot of research. How do you know which is right for you?
Read our blog, where we ask questions to help you determine whether renting your home or buying for the long term is the right decision for you and your needs.
What are some home buying tips for military veterans?
Aside from checking your credit score and finding a real estate agent, we have a list of helpful resources for our military veterans who want to buy a home.
How much can I afford?
Determining how much you can afford is a great first step in the home buying process. Factors that should be considered are your total monthly income, non-mortgage debts, down payment, your credit score, and interest rates.
Click here to use our Mortgage Calculator and Affordability Calculator to determine how much you can afford.
How do I get started?
There’s a lot to know when it comes to buying your first home, but the NC Housing Finance Agency is here for you.
Our Free Guide to Home Ownership will walk you step-by-step through the home buying process so it’s as easy, efficient and exciting as possible!
Home Matters Blog
Bridging the Gap: Models Designed to Help Make Home Ownership Affordable
Home ownership has become increasingly out of reach for many households in North Carolina and across the country. In the last five years alone, the median single-family home price in the state has grown from $311,500 (July 2021) to $395,500 (July 2026), a 26.9% increase[i] (see Figure 1 below). At the same time, the number of households facing cost burden (spending 30% or more of income on housing costs) has also been on the rise: 51.5% of renters experienced cost burden in 2024…
Your Emergency Home Repair Plan: How to Prepare Financially for Hurricane Season
September is National Hurricane Preparedness Month, making it a good time to prepare your home and your finances before a storm threatens your area. A hurricane can bring more than wind and rain. Power outages, evacuation orders and property damage can create immediate costs, sometimes before insurance payments or other assistance arrives. A little financial preparation can help you respond without adding unnecessary stress…
North Carolina to Gain $1.46 Billion in Affordable Housing Development
RALEIGH—Federal tax credits and other financing awarded in 2026 will build more than $1.46 billion in affordable apartments in North Carolina. The work is expected to support 21,000 jobs and generate $92.5 million in state and local tax revenue. Tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, including bond awards from February and June 2026, were approved for 53 developments by the North Carolina Federal Tax Reform Allocation Committee, based on recommendations from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which administers the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program…
NC Housing Finance Agency
3508 Bush Street, Raleigh, NC 27609
Thank you to all of our partners for helping us create safe, affordable housing opportunities to enhance the quality of life of North Carolinians.
J. Adam Abram, Board Chair
Scott Farmer, Executive Director
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