Homebuyer Programs in Burlington, North Carolina (2026)
Est. City Population
61,496
Median Home Price
$245,000
Est. Closing Costs
$6,100
By Tyler Thompson · NC Licensed Agent · Updated May 24, 2026
Burlington is a city of approximately 61,496 residents in Alamance County, located along the Interstate 40/85 corridor about midway between Greensboro and Durham. The city grew about 7 percent between the 2020 Census and the 2025 estimate and is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities of its size in the state, with the US Census Bureau reporting roughly 47 percent White, 30 percent Black, 20 percent Hispanic or Latino population in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Major regional employers include Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, commonly known as LabCorp, which is headquartered in Burlington and is one of the largest clinical laboratory operators in the world; Cone Health Alamance Regional Medical Center; Alamance-Burlington School System; and Alamance Community College. The median home sale price in March 2026 was approximately $245,000 according to the Redfin Burlington housing market report, down about 7.5 percent year over year.
For first-time buyers, Burlington is one of the most affordable cities of its size in North Carolina and stands in sharp contrast to nearby Triangle and Triad markets. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey reported a median value of owner-occupied housing in Burlington of $199,200 and a median household income of $56,880, both well below state averages. Established neighborhoods around downtown, along Webb Avenue and Church Street, and in the Glen Raven and Elmira areas regularly come up under $250,000, with newer construction typically in the $275,000 to $350,000 range. Buyers seeking more space sometimes expand the search to neighboring Graham (the Alamance County seat), Elon, Gibsonville, and Mebane.
Burlington is one of North Carolina's 24 HUD entitlement cities for the Community Development Block Grant program and serves as the lead entity of the Burlington HOME Consortium, which covers Alamance County plus Caswell, Davidson, Randolph, and Rockingham counties for affordable housing development. Through these federal sources, the City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to qualifying first-time buyers at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income. The City's posted Community Development page does not publish a fixed per-buyer maximum on the public site, so buyers should contact City of Burlington Community Development directly to confirm the current per-household funding limit before structuring an offer.
Stacking the City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program with the North Carolina 1st Home Advantage Down Payment at $15,000 and the Community Partners Loan Pool at up to $50,000 can produce substantial combined assistance on a Burlington starter purchase. The Habitat for Humanity of Alamance County Homeownership Program, based at 1176 North Church Street in Burlington, offers a separate path with a zero-interest mortgage and 250 hours of sweat equity in lieu of a down payment, and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America Best in America Mortgage rounds out the local nonprofit options with character-based, no-down-payment lending.
Local Down Payment Assistance Programs
Programs below are administered locally and are specific to this city, county, or area nonprofits.
City Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program | Down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers (HUD HOME Investment Partnerships Program funded) | Amount varies; FY2026-2027 Annual Action Plan budgets $45,000 for the Homebuyer Program (per-buyer maximum award not published on city site; contact Community Development for current limits) | Required |
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) | Deferred forgivable loan | Up to 25% of the purchase price or up to $50,000, whichever is less | Required |
| Habitat for Humanity of Alamance County Homeownership Program | Zero-interest affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built or rehabbed home | Affordable mortgage with no traditional down payment required (250 hours of sweat equity in lieu of down payment) | See details |
| NACA Homebuyer Program | Affordable mortgage | No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, below-market interest rate | No |
What Does Buying a $225,000 Home in Burlington Actually Cost?
Example shows a first-time buyer earning at or below 80 percent of Alamance County Area Median Income purchasing a $225,000 existing home in Burlington with a Federal Housing Administration 3.5 percent down payment loan. The buyer stacks the North Carolina 1st Home Advantage Down Payment ($15,000) with a placeholder $10,000 award from the City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program. Combined assistance of $25,000 covers the $7,875 down payment and $5,625 in estimated closing costs, with about $11,500 remaining for prepaid escrows, points, and reserves. Important: The City of Burlington does not publish a fixed per-buyer maximum on its public Community Development page; the $10,000 figure above is a placeholder for illustration only. Confirm the current City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program award limit with the Community Development Department before relying on these numbers. Both programs require homebuyer education through an approved counselor and a credit score of at least 640 for the NCHFA program.
How to Apply for DPA Programs in Burlington
- 1Step 1
Confirm your eligibility for the major North Carolina programs. The North Carolina 1st Home Advantage Down Payment and the NC Home Advantage Mortgage require first-time homebuyer status (or no ownership in the past three years), a minimum credit score of 640, and household income within NCHFA limits. The Community Partners Loan Pool and the City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program both require household income at or below 80 percent of Alamance County Area Median Income.
- 2Step 2
Complete homebuyer education through a Housing and Urban Development approved counseling agency. The eight-hour workshop is required for all NCHFA programs and for the City of Burlington program. Many regional providers offer the workshop virtually. Contact the City of Burlington Community Development Department for a list of approved counseling agencies that serve Burlington homebuyers.
- 3Step 3
Contact the City of Burlington Community Development Department directly to confirm current funding for the City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program. The City's posted Community Development page does not quote a fixed per-buyer maximum, so this confirmation is essential before structuring an offer. The City is the lead entity of the Burlington HOME Consortium and processes Homebuyer Program funding through its own Community Development office at Burlington City Hall.
- 4Step 4
Get pre-approved with an NCHFA-approved lender. The lender will run your full credit and income file, structure the first mortgage (typically a Federal Housing Administration loan or an NC Home Advantage Mortgage), and layer the North Carolina 1st Home Advantage Down Payment and any City of Burlington award on top. Tell your lender at the first conversation that you plan to use both city and NCHFA programs. The official NCHFA-approved lender list is at NCHomeAdvantage.com.
- 5Step 5
Decide whether to also pursue the Habitat for Humanity of Alamance County Homeownership Program or the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America Best in America Mortgage. Habitat Alamance partners with families who can demonstrate housing need, ability to pay an affordable mortgage, and willingness to invest 250 hours of sweat equity. Start with the Pre-Application Questionnaire (English or Spanish) submitted to cwhitesell@habitatalamance.org or by mail to P.O. Box 5036, Burlington, NC 27216, or drop-off at 1176 North Church Street, Burlington. Call 336-222-8191 extension 103 with questions. NACA serves Burlington through its regional offices; start at naca.com.
- 6Step 6
Find an eligible home within the city limits of Burlington and submit your applications once you are under contract. Single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums all qualify under NCHFA programs, subject to sales price limits updated annually. Your lender and the City of Burlington Community Development Department will coordinate the NCHFA underwriting and the City's down payment assistance approval. Plan a 30- to 60-day window from contract to close.
Housing Market in Burlington
The median home sale price in Burlington was approximately $245,000 in March 2026 according to the Redfin Burlington housing market report, which represents a 7.5 percent decrease from the previous year. This makes Burlington one of the most affordable mid-sized cities in North Carolina, well below Greensboro, Durham, and most other markets profiled on this site.
The US Census Bureau 2020-2024 American Community Survey reports a median value of owner-occupied housing in Burlington of $199,200 with a 53.8 percent owner-occupied rate, which is meaningfully below the state average. The gap between the ACS median value and the current sale price reflects steady appreciation since the survey window opened, while the recent year-over-year softening reflects improved inventory and slower buyer pace across North Carolina.
For first-time buyers, the practical implication in Burlington is that the entry segment of single-family homes under $250,000 is broad enough that stacking the City of Burlington Homebuyer Assistance Program with North Carolina Housing Finance Agency programs frequently produces zero or near-zero out-of-pocket purchases. With a 53.8 percent owner-occupied rate, the city has room to grow its homeownership base, and the available local programs are designed to help that happen.