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?
First-time homebuyers purchasing a home within Charlotte city limits, Households at or below 110% of AMI using Program 1A, Program 1B, or Program 1B Exemption, City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and CMS employees using the Program 1B Exemption lane when otherwise eligible, Borrowers completing at least 8 hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling, Buyers using an approved House Charlotte lender and contributing at least $1,000 down at closing
What support do you get?
Current House Charlotte materials describe three lanes: Program 1A up to $30,000 plus a required $50,000 match, Program 1B up to $10,000 plus a required $20,000 match, and Program 1B Exemption up to $30,000 with no match required for eligible City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and CMS employees.
Do you repay it?
Current FAQs describe House Charlotte as a 0% deferred lien with a 30-year term, 30-year affordability period, deed restrictions, and forgiveness at year 31 if all program conditions are met. Sale, transfer, refinance, loss of owner occupancy, or other covenant triggers can activate recapture or county-approved payoff rules.
How do you apply?
Use an approved House Charlotte lender, complete at least 8 hours of HUD-approved education and counseling, secure mortgage prequalification, choose the correct Program 1A / 1B / 1B Exemption lane, and have the lender submit the reservation and loan package. The official page says reservations are first-come, first-served, capped at 20 per month, and currently reopen on 2026-05-01 at 8:00 AM.
Application timing
Current official materials say reservations are first-come, first-served, capped at 20 per month, and subject to funding availability; required reservation documentation is accepted only from approved lenders.
Official source evidence
Current DreamKey materials show House Charlotte remains a live local down-payment-assistance program with three lanes, monthly reservation caps, matched and no-match structures, and lender-submitted applications.
View official source
Last verified
2026-04-23
Current DreamKey House Charlotte page verified 2026-04-23; overview PDF Rev 5.30.2025
Paid preview
What paid access adds for House Charlotte Program
See the shape of the comparison output, risk checks, lender questions, and next-step checklist before you decide whether this program is worth carrying into the paid layer.
Example paid output for this program. The free page stays visible either way.
Comparison preview
House Charlotte Program
Amount: Current House Charlotte materials describe three lanes: Program 1A up to $30,000 plus a required $50,000 match, Program 1B up to $10,000 plus a required $20,000 match, and Program 1B Exemption up to $30,000 with no match required for eligible City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and CMS employees.
Repayment: Current FAQs describe House Charlotte as a 0% deferred lien with a 30-year term, 30-year affordability period, deed restrictions, and forgiveness at year 31 if all program conditions are met. Sale, transfer, refinance, loss of owner occupancy, or other covenant triggers can activate recapture or county-approved payoff rules.
First-time buyer: Required
Risk checks preview
What gets flagged before you call a lender
- House Charlotte Program requires a participating lender.
- House Charlotte Program must be paired with a specific first mortgage.
Lender questions preview
Questions tied to this exact path
- Is your team approved to originate House Charlotte Program for this household and loan setup?
- Which first-mortgage product must be paired with House Charlotte 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 DreamKey House Charlotte program page for House Charlotte Program