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Homebuyer Programs in Greensboro, North Carolina (2026)

Est. City Population

308,667

Median Home Price

$303,000

Est. Closing Costs

$7,600

By Tyler Thompson · NC Licensed Agent · Updated May 20, 2026

Greensboro is the third-largest city in North Carolina and the population center of Guilford County, with about 308,667 residents as of mid-2025 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city anchors the Piedmont Triad region alongside Winston-Salem and High Point. Greensboro's economy is unusually diverse for a city of its size, with major employers including Cone Health, Honda Aircraft Company, Volvo Trucks North America, VF Corporation, The Fresh Market, Qorvo, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and North Carolina A&T State University. According to Redfin, the median home price in Greensboro was about $303,000 in March 2026, up roughly 4.8 percent year over year and well below the state median, making the Gate City one of the most affordable mid-size markets in the Carolinas.

First-time buyers in Greensboro have a wide range of neighborhoods to choose from. The city's eight designated redevelopment areas — Dudley Heights, Eastside Park, Glenwood, Kings Forest, Mill District, Ole Asheboro, Random Woods, and Willow Oaks — unlock additional down payment assistance bonuses of $5,000 to $10,000 depending on which program tier you use. Neighborhoods like Glenwood and Ole Asheboro near downtown remain accessible to lower-income buyers, while Lindley Park and Sunset Hills offer walkable streets and slightly higher price points. Buyers willing to commute can also look at neighboring Winston-Salem about 30 minutes west, Durham about 50 minutes east, or Raleigh about 75 minutes east.

Greensboro is one of the strongest stacking markets in North Carolina because the city, Guilford County, and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency all offer first-time buyer assistance that can be combined. A buyer at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income purchasing inside Greensboro city limits could potentially layer up to $25,000 from the Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program, plus an additional $5,000 if buying in a redevelopment area, plus $15,000 from the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment, for total assistance of $45,000 — enough to cover the full down payment and closing costs on a typical Greensboro home and still reduce the loan amount.

This page lists five local programs administered at the city, county, and nonprofit level, along with the five state programs offered through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and the seven federal mortgage and grant programs available nationwide. Together, that is more public assistance than most comparable cities offer, and the application process is unusually centralized because Housing Consultants Group handles intake for both the city and county programs.

Local Down Payment Assistance Programs

Programs below are administered locally and are specific to this city, county, or area nonprofits.

City Programs

Greensboro #100Homes Program
Forgivable loanUp to $20,000 ($25,000 in designated redevelopment areas)First-time: Yes
Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program
Forgivable loanUp to $25,000 ($30,000 in designated redevelopment areas)First-time: Yes
Greensboro Public Service Heroes Program
Forgivable loanUp to $20,000 ($30,000 in designated redevelopment areas)First-time: Yes

County Programs

Guilford County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program
Forgivable loanMinimum $1,000; not to exceed 20% of the purchase priceFirst-time: Yes

Nonprofit Programs

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro Homeownership Program
Affordable mortgageAffordable mortgage with no down payment required and 200 to 250 hours of sweat equityFirst-time: No

What Does Buying a $303,000 Home in Greensboro Actually Cost?

Purchase Price$303,000
Down Payment (3.5%)$10,600
Estimated Closing Costs$7,600
Total Cash Needed$18,200
minusGreensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program (low-income tier, in redevelopment area)-$30,000
minusNC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment-$15,000
Your estimated out-of-pocket with maximum assistance$0

Assumes a first-time buyer at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income for Guilford County purchasing a $303,000 home located within Greensboro city limits and inside one of the eight designated redevelopment areas (Dudley Heights, Eastside Park, Glenwood, Kings Forest, Mill District, Ole Asheboro, Random Woods, or Willow Oaks). Down payment is calculated at the FHA minimum of 3.5 percent. Closing costs are estimated at about 2.5 percent of purchase price. Combined assistance of $45,000 exceeds the $18,200 needed for down payment and closing, with approximately $26,800 in surplus that can be applied to reduce the loan amount or as additional principal reduction at closing per program rules. Buyer must complete the Housing Consultants Group 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer education course, make a minimum $500 cash investment from their own funds, use an NCHFA-approved lender, and meet a 640 credit score minimum to qualify for the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

How to Apply for DPA Programs in Greensboro

  1. 1
    Step 1

    Confirm your eligibility tier. The Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program has three tiers based on income. The low-income tier (up to $25,000) requires household income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income and that you are a current City of Greensboro resident. The #100Homes tier (up to $20,000) serves buyers between 80 and 120 percent of Area Median Income with no residency requirement. The Public Service Heroes tier (up to $30,000 with redevelopment bonus) serves buyers between 80 and 120 percent of Area Median Income who are employed by the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, or Guilford County public schools, or who are active duty military or veterans. All three tiers require the home to be located inside Greensboro city limits and require first-time buyer status (or no homeownership in the past three years).

  2. 2
    Step 2

    Complete the required homebuyer education course. Housing Consultants Group offers a HUD-approved 8-hour homebuyer education course, delivered on two Saturday virtual sessions per month. The course is free for buyers under contract to purchase in Greensboro or High Point, and current Greensboro and High Point residents. Buyers outside those areas pay a $100 registration fee. Your certificate of completion is valid for one year. Register through the HCG questionnaire or call 336-553-0946 extension 101.

  3. 3
    Step 3

    Meet with a HUD-certified housing counselor. Housing Consultants Group provides free one-on-one counseling to help you map out which combination of city, county, and state programs you qualify for. They handle all four government programs in this market, which means you only need one intake to coordinate everything. Contact them at 336-553-0946 extension 101 or email info@housingconsultantsgroup.org. For additional counseling support, Greensboro Housing Coalition is also HUD-certified and reachable at 336-691-9521.

  4. 4
    Step 4

    Get pre-approved with an approved lender. The City of Greensboro maintains a list of approved lenders for the Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program. If you plan to stack with the NC Home Advantage Mortgage or the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment, your lender must be approved by both the city and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. A 640 credit score is required for the state programs (660 for manufactured homes).

  5. 5
    Step 5

    Find a home that meets program rules. For the city programs, the home must be located within Greensboro city limits. To unlock the redevelopment area bonus ($5,000 to $10,000 depending on tier), the home must be inside one of eight designated areas: Dudley Heights, Eastside Park, Glenwood, Kings Forest, Mill District, Ole Asheboro, Random Woods, or Willow Oaks. The City of Greensboro publishes ArcGIS mapping tools for both reinvestment areas and redevelopment areas. The Guilford County program covers any home in Guilford County including unincorporated areas, High Point, and Greensboro.

  6. 6
    Step 6

    Submit your application through your lender once you have a home under contract. Your lender will package your loan application together with the city, county, and state assistance applications and submit them through Housing Consultants Group. You must make a minimum cash investment of $500 from your own funds. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual allocation is exhausted, so start pre-approval early. The full process from initial counseling to closing typically takes 60 to 90 days for the government programs, or 12 to 18 months if you are also applying through Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro at 336-275-4663.

Housing Market in Greensboro

According to Redfin's March 2026 market report, the median sale price in Greensboro was about $303,000, up roughly 4.8 percent compared to the same month a year earlier. The median price per square foot was about $172, up 0.9 percent year over year, indicating that price growth is being driven more by smaller, lower-priced homes selling at a premium than by broad appreciation across the market.

Inventory in the Greensboro market has remained tight relative to demand, but the city is significantly more balanced than the larger Charlotte or Raleigh metros. Homes are still selling within a normal window for the Triad, and buyers using assistance programs generally have enough time to complete the required homebuyer education course and lender pre-approval before competing offers move on.

For first-time buyers, the most important takeaway is affordability. Greensboro's median price of $303,000 is roughly $100,000 below Charlotte and Raleigh, and the city's assistance programs can cover the full down payment and closing costs on a median-priced home for buyers at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Market data sourced from Redfin's Greensboro housing market report.

Frequently Asked Questions About DPA in Greensboro

How much down payment assistance can I get in Greensboro?
A first-time homebuyer at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income purchasing inside Greensboro city limits can qualify for up to $25,000 from the Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program, plus an additional $5,000 bonus if the home is in one of the eight designated redevelopment areas (Dudley Heights, Eastside Park, Glenwood, Kings Forest, Mill District, Ole Asheboro, Random Woods, or Willow Oaks). That brings the city assistance alone up to $30,000. Stacking with the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment adds another $15,000, for a total of $45,000. Moderate-income buyers between 80 and 120 percent of Area Median Income can access $20,000 to $30,000 through the Greensboro #100Homes Program or the Greensboro Public Service Heroes Program.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Greensboro?
The city of Greensboro programs do not publish a fixed minimum credit score, but they require a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which most participating lenders underwrite to a minimum of 620 to 640. The NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment and NC Home Advantage Mortgage both require a 640 minimum credit score (660 for manufactured homes). Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro requires a credit score of at least 600 with all three bureaus, plus no collections or delinquencies. For FHA loans, the minimum is 580 for the 3.5 percent down payment program.
Can I combine Greensboro city programs with North Carolina state programs?
Yes, and stacking is one of the biggest advantages of buying in Greensboro. The three Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program tiers can be combined with the Guilford County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program and with North Carolina Housing Finance Agency products like the NC Home Advantage Mortgage and the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment. Most stacks total $30,000 to $45,000 in combined assistance. Housing Consultants Group administers both the city and county programs, which makes coordination simpler than in markets where each program runs through a different organization.
What is the maximum home price for Greensboro assistance programs?
The Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program does not publish a fixed purchase price cap, but the home must qualify for a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and the buyer must complete an 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The Guilford County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program provides a minimum of $1,000, with total assistance not to exceed 20 percent of the purchase price. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage and NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment have published sales price limits that vary by county and are updated annually. Most Greensboro homes priced at or below $303,000 (the March 2026 median) qualify comfortably.
Who administers the Greensboro and Guilford County homebuyer programs?
All four government programs in this market are administered by Housing Consultants Group, a HUD-certified nonprofit housing counseling agency that handles applications for the Greensboro Homebuyer Assistance Program, the Greensboro #100Homes Program, the Greensboro Public Service Heroes Program, and the Guilford County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program. Reach Housing Consultants Group at 336-553-0946 extension 101 for city programs, or 336-850-4040 for the county program. Email info@housingconsultantsgroup.org. The Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro homeownership program is a separate application; call 336-275-4663 or email homeinfo@hhgg.org. The Greensboro Housing Coalition at 1031 Summit Avenue Suite 1E-2 provides additional HUD-certified housing counseling and can be reached at 336-691-9521.
Program details, funding availability, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify directly with the program administrator. This site is for educational purposes only. Not financial advice.