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 programs. The 3% and the $15,000 can't be combined with each other, but the Community Partners Loan Pool can be added to either one. Which fits depends on eligibility (first-time-buyer/veteran status, household income, or working with a CPLP member), not on which number happens to be larger:
- NC 1st Home Advantage — a fixed $15,000. Limited to first-time buyers and veterans. A 0% forgivable second mortgage (a loan, not a grant), forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11-15, so nothing is owed after year 15. No monthly payment is due; it comes due before then only if the home is sold, refinanced or transferred, or stops being your main 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% forgivable second mortgage (a loan, not a grant), forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11-15, with the same repayment conditions.
- Community Partners Loan Pool — up to 25% of the price or $50,000, whichever is less. Applied for only through a CPLP member, which sizes the amount. NCHFA sets the terms: 0% interest, deferred, not forgiven, repaid on sale, cash-out refinance, moving out, or at the end of the loan term. It sits on an NC Home Advantage Mortgage and can be added to either the 3% or the $15,000.
- Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). No longer offered: NCHFA lists the Mortgage Credit Certificate as no longer an active program (NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program Guide, July 2026).
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 forgivable second mortgage, or the Community Partners Loan Pool reduce 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 | A fixed $15,000 | First-time buyers or veterans | 0% second mortgage, forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11-15 |
| NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ | Up to 3% of loan amount as DPA | Broader buyer pool, not limited to first-time | 0% second mortgage, forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11-15 |
| NC Home Advantage Tax Credit (MCC) | No longer offered | No longer offered | No longer offered |
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | Up to 25% of price or $50K, whichever is less | Through a CPLP member | Not forgiven; 0% deferred, terms set by NCHFA |
Targeted census tracts: two in Bertie County
NCHFA lists two targeted census tracts in Bertie County: 9603.00 and 9604.02 (as of Oct 25, 2026, NCHFA's list). Buying in one waives the first-time-buyer rule for the $15,000: the buyer can't own any other property at closing, but doesn't have to be a first-time buyer. The amount is the same $15,000, and the income, price and credit limits still apply.
Verify the specific address
Tract status is determined address by address, and NCHFA publishes a list, not a lookup tool. Run the exact address on the FFIEC geocoder and check that its census tract number matches one on NCHFA's list exactly.
Stacking NCHFA with your first mortgage
NCHFA down payment assistance is 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; USDA's map shows no ineligible area in 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 the address's census tract against NCHFA's targeted-tract list 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 price or $50,000, whichever is less, through a CPLP member. The $15,000 and the 3% are 0% forgivable second mortgages (loans, not grants), forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11-15; the Community Partners Loan Pool is a 0% deferred loan that is not forgiven. The 3% and the $15,000 can't be combined with each other, but the Community Partners Loan Pool can be added to either one. See a participating lender to determine which applies to you.
Is the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) still offered?
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 Oct 25, 2026.
Is my Bertie County property in a targeted census tract?
NCHFA lists two targeted census tracts in Bertie County: 9603.00 and 9604.02 (as of Oct 25, 2026). NCHFA publishes the list, not a lookup tool, so run the exact address on the FFIEC geocoder (geomap.ffiec.gov) and check that the tract number matches exactly. A targeted tract waives the first-time-buyer rule for the $15,000; the amount and the income, price and credit limits stay the same.
Can I combine NCHFA assistance with a USDA or FHA loan?
Yes. NCHFA down payment assistance is 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?
The $15,000 and the 3% are 0% forgivable second mortgages (loans, not grants) with no monthly payment, forgiven 20% a year at the end of years 11-15, so nothing is owed after year 15. Before then they come due if the home is sold, refinanced or transferred, or stops being your main home. The Community Partners Loan Pool is 0% and deferred but not forgiven: it is repaid on sale, cash-out refinance, moving out, or at the end of the loan term. Confirm the specific repayment terms with NCHFA or a participating lender before relying on this program.