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South Carolina program

Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program

South Carolina route through Richland County Community Development Office. Use this page to confirm the core public facts first, then decide whether you need deeper comparison output and lender-call prep.

Forgivable second mortgage Forgivable if occupancy holds 2026-04-19
Agency Richland County Community Development Office
Support type Forgivable second mortgage
Amount highlight A deferred forgivable loan of up to $24,500 for down payment and closing costs.
Last verified 2026-04-19

Decision-ready public facts

What this program appears to offer

Quick answer from published facts. Go to South Carolina program hub

Amount

A deferred forgivable loan of up to $24,500 for down payment and closing costs.

Type

Forgivable second mortgage

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

Program guide

What to know before you click through

Use the public facts first. Open the official source when a detail affects eligibility, repayment, or lender choice.

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.

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

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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

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.
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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.

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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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