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North Carolina program

City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program

North Carolina route through City of Durham Community Development Department. This page stays free for the core public facts. Open paid access only when you need the full state board, related paths, and the decision layer around this program.

Forgivable second mortgage Forgivable if occupancy holds 2026-04-21
Agency City of Durham Community Development Department
Support type Forgivable second mortgage
Amount highlight Up to $80,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for properties within Durham city limits.
Last verified 2026-04-21

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Amount

Up to $80,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for properties within Durham city limits.

Type

Forgivable second mortgage

Repayment

The assistance is a 0% interest forgivable mortgage loan with a 15-year term. The balance is forgiven at 1/15 each year if the borrower continues to occupy the home as a primary residence; if the borrower no longer occupies the residence during the affordability period, the remaining balance is due and recaptured by the City.

First-time buyer

Required

Program guide

What to know before you click through

This is still the free fact layer. Open the official source when a detail affects eligibility, repayment, lender choice, or whether this path should stay on your shortlist.

Who qualifies?

Low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers

What support do you get?

Up to $80,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for properties within Durham city limits.

Do you repay it?

The assistance is a 0% interest forgivable mortgage loan with a 15-year term. The balance is forgiven at 1/15 each year if the borrower continues to occupy the home as a primary residence; if the borrower no longer occupies the residence during the affordability period, the remaining balance is due and recaptured by the City.

How do you apply?

Apply through one of the City of Durham's approved participating lenders, complete a HUD homebuyer education course, and submit the required household and mortgage documents through the lender.

Application timing

Apply through a City-approved participating lender; loans are first-come, first-served until program funding is depleted.

Official source evidence

Official Durham materials state that eligible first-time homebuyers can apply for up to $80,000 and that the assistance is a 0% forgivable mortgage loan with a 15-year term.

View official source

Last verified

2026-04-21

2024-08-20

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Comparison preview

City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program

Amount: Up to $80,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for properties within Durham city limits.

Repayment: The assistance is a 0% interest forgivable mortgage loan with a 15-year term. The balance is forgiven at 1/15 each year if the borrower continues to occupy the home as a primary residence; if the borrower no longer occupies the residence during the affordability period, the remaining balance is due and recaptured by the City.

First-time buyer: Required

Timing: Apply through a City-approved participating lender; loans are first-come, first-served until program funding is depleted.

Risk checks preview

What gets flagged before you call a lender

  • City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program requires a participating lender.
  • City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program must be paired with a specific first mortgage.

Lender questions preview

Questions tied to this exact path

  • Is your team approved to originate City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program for this household and loan setup?
  • Which first-mortgage product must be paired with City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program, and what breaks eligibility?

Action checklist preview

What you would do next

  • Confirm the first-time buyer definition before you apply
  • Review the official Program page for City of Durham Down Payment Assistance Program
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city and county programs

City and county down payment or closing-cost programs that never make it into the free statewide layer.

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