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South Carolina program

Palmetto Heroes 2026

South Carolina route through SC Housing. 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 Deferred due on exit 2026-04-20
Agency SC Housing
Support type Forgivable second mortgage
Amount highlight $10,000 in down payment assistance for eligible Palmetto Heroes borrowers.
Last verified 2026-04-20

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Funding is limited and reservation-based

This page stays public because the official structure is still useful, but these details should not be flattened into fake certainty.

The 2026 Palmetto Heroes cycle is live and well documented, but reservations are limited and lender capacity matters.

Decision-ready public facts

What stays free on this program page

Quick answer from published facts. Use this first, then jump to Go to South Carolina program hub if you need the wider state context.

Amount

$10,000 in down payment assistance for eligible Palmetto Heroes borrowers.

Type

Forgivable second mortgage

15-year forgivable second mortgage

Repayment

SC Housing describes the assistance as a 15-year, zero-percent, no-monthly-payment second mortgage. The full amount becomes due upon sale, refinance, or if the property is no longer the borrower's primary residence before the 15-year term ends, and the current guide says the lien is not subordinated.

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?

Educators, Law enforcement officers, Correctional officers, Firefighters, Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, Active-duty military members, Reservists and National Guard members, Veterans, Licensed medical professionals

What support do you get?

$10,000 in down payment assistance for eligible Palmetto Heroes borrowers.

Do you repay it?

SC Housing describes the assistance as a 15-year, zero-percent, no-monthly-payment second mortgage. The full amount becomes due upon sale, refinance, or if the property is no longer the borrower's primary residence before the 15-year term ends, and the current guide says the lien is not subordinated.

How do you apply?

Work with an SC Housing approved lender after signing a purchase contract, reserve the file through the 2026 Palmetto Heroes channel, and pair the assistance with the SC Housing Homebuyer (BOND) first mortgage.

Application timing

Reservations opened March 16, 2026. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, and borrowers must have a fully executed sales contract before reserving or locking the interest rate. The 2026 guide says loans must be closed and purchased by SC Housing no later than December 31, 2026.

Official source evidence

Current SC Housing materials say reservations for the 2026 Palmetto Heroes Program opened March 16, 2026 and that eligible public-service borrowers can receive $10,000 as a 15-year forgivable second mortgage with no monthly payments.

View official source

Last verified

2026-04-20

2026-03-16

Paid preview

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Comparison preview

Palmetto Heroes 2026

Amount: $10,000 in down payment assistance for eligible Palmetto Heroes borrowers.

Repayment: SC Housing describes the assistance as a 15-year, zero-percent, no-monthly-payment second mortgage. The full amount becomes due upon sale, refinance, or if the property is no longer the borrower's primary residence before the 15-year term ends, and the current guide says the lien is not subordinated.

First-time buyer: Required

Timing: Reservations opened March 16, 2026. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, and borrowers must have a fully executed sales contract before reserving or locking the interest rate. The 2026 guide says loans must be closed and purchased by SC Housing no later than December 31, 2026.

Risk checks preview

What gets flagged before you call a lender

  • Palmetto Heroes 2026 requires a participating lender.
  • Palmetto Heroes 2026 must be paired with a specific first mortgage.

Lender questions preview

Questions tied to this exact path

  • Is your team approved to originate Palmetto Heroes 2026 for this household and loan setup?
  • Which first-mortgage product must be paired with Palmetto Heroes 2026, and what breaks eligibility?

Action checklist preview

What you would do next

  • Confirm the first-time buyer definition before you apply
  • Review the official Palmetto Heroes page for Palmetto Heroes 2026
Open the full South Carolina board

Paid research preview

What paid research already covers in South Carolina

Paid research already tracks city and county programs, employer-assisted paths, specialty and conditional paths for South Carolina.

8 tracked deeper records

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What unlocks after payment

Specific program names, source notes, current-vs-conditional judgments, and the next lender or agency questions tied to this state.

1 tracked

city and county programs

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

1 tracked

employer-assisted paths

Employer-linked housing incentives and workforce programs that matter only if they fit your job or agency.

6 tracked

specialty and conditional paths

Conditional, paused, or specialty paths worth checking before you assume the state is a dead end.

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