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?
Eligible first-time homebuyers, Buyers who have not owned property during the last three years, Low-to-moderate-income households, South Carolina residents purchasing in unincorporated Richland County
What support do you get?
A deferred forgivable loan of up to $24,500 for down payment and closing costs.
Do you repay it?
The assistance is provided as a deferred, forgivable second mortgage. Approved applicants must live in the home for five years from closing for the loan to be forgiven. If the home is not used as the primary residence for the full five-year period, the assistance must be repaid based on a prorated formula.
How do you apply?
Attend the Richland County Homeownership Workshop to receive the application, complete homebuying classes, secure a mortgage pre-approval letter, and then submit the full application package to the county.
Application timing
After the required workshop, homebuyer classes, lender pre-approval, and complete application package, Richland County says application review can take up to 30 business days. The county FAQ also says the DPA check turnaround is three business weeks after all required closing documents are received.
Official source evidence
The official Richland County page says the Homeownership Assistance Program offers eligible first-time homebuyers in unincorporated Richland County a deferred forgivable loan of up to $24,500, requires workshop attendance to receive the application, and forgives the loan after five years of owner occupancy.
View official source
Last verified
2026-04-19
Effective date not captured.
Paid preview
What paid access adds for Richland County Homeownership Assistance 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
Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program
Amount: A deferred forgivable loan of up to $24,500 for down payment and closing costs.
Repayment: The assistance is provided as a deferred, forgivable second mortgage. Approved applicants must live in the home for five years from closing for the loan to be forgiven. If the home is not used as the primary residence for the full five-year period, the assistance must be repaid based on a prorated formula.
First-time buyer: Required
Timing: After the required workshop, homebuyer classes, lender pre-approval, and complete application package, Richland County says application review can take up to 30 business days. The county FAQ also says the DPA check turnaround is three business weeks after all required closing documents are received.
Risk checks preview
What gets flagged before you call a lender
- Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program can trigger repayment if owner occupancy changes.
Lender questions preview
Questions tied to this exact path
- Which events trigger repayment for Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program: non_owner_occupancy?
- How does Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program define a first-time buyer for this household?
Action checklist preview
What you would do next
- Confirm the first-time buyer definition before you apply
- Review the official Questions and answers for Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program
