What NCHFA offers
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) runs programs that layer on top of a first mortgage rather than replacing it. Its down payment assistance comes as three separate, mutually-exclusive programs — a buyer qualifies for one, based on eligibility (first-time-buyer/veteran status, household income, or partner-agency territory), not on which number happens to be larger:
- NC 1st Home Advantage — $15,000 flat. Limited to first-time buyers and veterans. Structured as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. No monthly payment is due on the assistance itself; it is repaid under specific conditions such as sale or refinance of the home.
- NC Home Advantage Mortgage — up to 3% of the loan amount. Broader eligibility, not limited to first-time buyers or veterans. Also a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage with the same repayment conditions.
- Community Partners Loan Pool — up to 25% of the sales price, capped at $50,000. Available only through a participating local partner agency; terms are set by that agency rather than NCHFA directly.
- Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). An annual federal tax credit on a portion of the mortgage interest paid each year — a direct credit against federal income tax owed, on top of any standard mortgage interest deduction. Currently suspended — NCHFA exhausted allocated funds around June 2025. The agency periodically receives new allocations that could restore it; confirm current status with NCHFA before advising a buyer to plan around it.
Bertie County NCHFA Down Payment Assistance Estimator
See your estimated monthly payment plus how the NC Home Advantage Mortgage's 3% assistance, the $15,000 1st Home Advantage grant, or the Community Partners Loan Pool reduce your actual cash to close.
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 | 0% deferred second mortgage |
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ | Up to 3% of loan amount as DPA | Broader buyer pool, not limited to first-time | 0% deferred second mortgage |
| NC Home Advantage Tax Credit (MCC) | Annual federal tax credit on mortgage interest | Currently suspended — funds exhausted ~June 2025 | N/A — credit, not a loan |
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | Up to 25% of price (capped $50K) | Partner-agency territory, own eligibility criteria | Terms set by partner agency |
Targeted census tracts: likely common in Bertie, not confirmed for every parcel
The full $15,000 assistance amount, and MCC eligibility more broadly, are typically widened for properties located in an NCHFA-designated "targeted census tract." Bertie County is one of North Carolina's more economically distressed counties, and in a county with that profile, targeted census tracts are likely common — potentially covering much of the county.
Verify the specific address
Targeted census tract status is not confirmed for every specific tract in Bertie County on this page. It is determined address by address. Before assuming a property qualifies for expanded assistance, consult NCHFA's tract eligibility lookup tool at nchfa.com to verify the specific address.
Stacking NCHFA with your first mortgage
NCHFA down payment assistance and the MCC are typically designed to stack on top of a qualifying first mortgage — USDA Guaranteed, FHA, or conventional. Whichever loan program fits your income and the property, NCHFA assistance can help cover the down payment and closing costs on top of it:
- See Bertie USDA Eligibility for zero-down financing across most of rural Bertie County.
- See Bertie FHA Loan Limits for a 3.5%-down option with no income cap.
Have a specific address in mind?
Travis will check whether it's in a targeted census tract.
Send the address, and Travis will check targeted-tract status against NCHFA's lookup tool and flag which of the three NCHFA programs you're most likely to qualify for before you talk to a lender.
Frequently asked questions
How much down payment assistance does NCHFA offer?
It depends which of NCHFA's three programs you qualify for. NC 1st Home Advantage is a flat $15,000, limited to first-time buyers and veterans. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage offers up to 3% of the loan amount and has broader eligibility. The Community Partners Loan Pool offers up to 25% of the sales price, capped at $50,000, in partner-agency territory. The first two are structured as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage; the Community Partners Loan Pool's terms are set by the partnering local agency. A buyer qualifies for one program, not more than one — see a participating lender to determine which applies to you.
What is a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)?
An MCC is a federal tax credit that lets an eligible borrower claim a portion of the annual mortgage interest paid as a direct credit against federal income tax owed — on top of, and separate from, the standard mortgage interest deduction. Currently suspended — NCHFA exhausted allocated funds around June 2025. The agency periodically receives new allocations that could restore it; confirm current status with NCHFA before advising a buyer to plan around it. Verified as of 2026-08-16.
Is my Bertie County property in a targeted census tract?
Likely, but not confirmed for every specific tract. Bertie is an economically distressed county, and targeted census tracts tend to be common in counties like it — but tract designation is address-specific. Consult NCHFA's tract eligibility lookup tool at nchfa.com to verify a specific address before relying on targeted-tract benefits.
Can I combine NCHFA assistance with a USDA or FHA loan?
Yes. NCHFA down payment assistance and MCC programs are typically designed to stack on top of a first mortgage — including USDA Guaranteed, FHA, and conventional loans. See our USDA and FHA pages for details on those first-mortgage options.
Do I have to repay the NCHFA down payment assistance?
It is structured as a deferred, 0% interest second mortgage — meaning no monthly payment is due, but the assistance amount can become due under certain conditions (such as selling or refinancing the home). Confirm the specific repayment terms with NCHFA or a participating lender before relying on this program.