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Homebuyer Programs in High Point, North Carolina (2026)

Est. City Population

120,571

Median Home Price

$258,000

Est. Closing Costs

$6,450

By Tyler Thompson · NC Licensed Agent · Updated May 22, 2026

High Point is a 120,571-resident city straddling Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, and Forsyth counties in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, positioned between Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Population grew 5.7 percent since 2020 on the strength of a diverse employer base led by Thomas Built Buses, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Bank of America, Marsh Furniture Company, and High Point University. The city anchors the twice-yearly High Point Market, the largest furniture trade show in the world, generating roughly $6.7 billion in annual statewide economic impact. The median sales price reached $258,000 in April 2026, up 12.7 percent year over year, making High Point one of the most accessible major housing markets in the state.

First-time buyers find their best entry points across central, eastern, and southern High Point. Downtown High Point and the surrounding Core City neighborhoods offer historic homes and new construction under $200,000. Greater High Point and South High Point near the Thomasville border deliver starter single-family homes in the $200,000s and townhomes below that. Buyers comparing options often look to nearby Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Archdale, and Trinity.

High Point operates two distinct city-funded down payment assistance programs. The High Point City-Wide Homebuyer Assistance Program delivers up to $7,500 in 5-year forgivable assistance for buyers at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income purchasing outside the Core City. The High Point Core City Homebuyer Incentive Program offers the same $7,500 with no income limit for purchases up to $300,000 inside the Core City. Stack either with the $15,000 forgivable NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment, and on a $190,000 Core City purchase, the combined $22,500 covers the entire $11,400 down payment plus closing costs with funds left over for prepaids and escrows.

High Point buyers can access 6 local programs (2 city, 1 county, 3 nonprofit), 3 North Carolina state programs, and 7 federal mortgage options, for 16 paths to first-time homeownership inside Guilford County.

Local Down Payment Assistance Programs

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

City Programs

High Point City-Wide Homebuyer Assistance Program
Forgivable LoanUp to $7,500First-time: Yes
High Point Core City Homebuyer Incentive Program
Forgivable LoanUp to $7,500First-time: No

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 High Point, Archdale and Trinity Homeownership Program
Zero-Interest LoanAffordable Habitat mortgage with 25-year 0 percent interest loanFirst-time: No
Housing Consultants Group Individual Development Account Program
GrantUp to $2,000 in matched savingsFirst-time: Yes
NACA Homebuyer Program
Affordable mortgageNo down payment, no closing costs, no fees, below-market interest rateFirst-time: No

What Does Buying a $190,000 Home in High Point Actually Cost?

Purchase Price$190,000
Down Payment (3.5%)$6,650
Estimated Closing Costs$4,750
Total Cash Needed$11,400
minusHigh Point Core City Homebuyer Incentive Program (no income limit, Core City area)-$7,500
minusNC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment (first-time buyer, forgivable)-$15,000
Your estimated out-of-pocket with maximum assistance$0

Example assumes a $190,000 home in the High Point Core City area purchased with a Federal Housing Administration insured loan (3.5 percent minimum down payment). Loan amount after down payment is $183,350. Stacking the $7,500 forgivable Core City Homebuyer Incentive with the $15,000 forgivable NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment delivers $22,500 in combined assistance, which covers the $6,650 down payment, approximately $4,750 in estimated closing costs (2.5 percent of purchase price), and leaves approximately $11,100 to apply toward prepaid escrows for property taxes and homeowners insurance. Buyer must contribute a minimum of $500 of their own funds toward the purchase per High Point program rules, complete a minimum of 8 hours of pre-purchase homebuyer education through the Housing Consultants Group, have a credit score of 640 or higher for the state program, and meet North Carolina Housing Finance Agency income limits.

How to Apply for DPA Programs in High Point

  1. 1
    Step 1

    Check eligibility. For the High Point City-Wide Homebuyer Assistance Program, household income must be at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income (approximately $54,800 for a 2-person household per the 2025 limits), and assets must be under $20,000. The Core City Incentive Program has no income limit but caps the sale price at $300,000. The NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment requires first-time buyer status or military veteran status with income at or below $152,000 and a purchase price under $495,000.

  2. 2
    Step 2

    Complete homebuyer education. The Housing Consultants Group, a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development approved counseling agency, offers the required 8-hour pre-purchase homebuyer education course virtually and in person at 804 Lindsay Street, High Point, NC 27262. Register by calling 336-553-0946 extension 1. The class also qualifies attendees for the Housing Consultants Group Individual Development Account matched savings program of up to $2,000 at closing.

  3. 3
    Step 3

    Contact a counselor for one-on-one program selection. Housing Consultants Group provides individual counseling sessions for first-time buyers and administers the Guilford County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program on behalf of the county. Reach them at 336-850-4040 for county program inquiries or info@housingconsultantsgroup.org for general questions.

  4. 4
    Step 4

    Get pre-approved with a participating lender. For state programs, use a North Carolina Housing Finance Agency approved lender list. For city and county programs, work with a lender already participating in the Housing Consultants Group lender network. Your lender will underwrite the chosen mortgage product (Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture, or conventional) and coordinate the layered down payment assistance reservations.

  5. 5
    Step 5

    Find a home that meets program requirements. For the City-Wide program, the home must be within High Point city limits but outside the Core City boundary and meet minimum housing code requirements. For the Core City Incentive, the home must be inside the defined Core City area with a sales price at or below $300,000. The thePOINT mapping service on the city website shows exact eligibility boundaries.

  6. 6
    Step 6

    Submit applications and close. Submit the City of High Point application to the Affordable Housing Division along with required documentation. An environmental review and minimum housing code inspection are required before closing. Buyer must contribute a minimum of $500 of their own funds to the purchase. Once approved, the city coordinates closing with your lender. Expect the city review to add 2 to 4 weeks beyond the standard 30 to 45-day mortgage closing timeline.

Housing Market in High Point

The High Point housing market reached a median sales price of $258,000 in April 2026, up 12.7 percent from April 2025, according to Redfin data. Median days on market stretched to 51 days, longer than the Triad average and notably slower than the Raleigh or Charlotte metros, giving buyers more time to evaluate options without immediate competing offers.

Inventory has tightened year over year while months of supply sat at 2.9 months in April 2026, down from 3.3 months in early 2024. That level still defines High Point as a seller market, though one of the more buyer-friendly seller markets in the state given the lower price point and longer marketing times. Homes in High Point typically receive one offer on average rather than the multi-offer scenarios common in the Triangle.

For High Point buyers, April 2026 means a market where well-prepared offers compete strongly without the bidding pressure of higher-priced markets. The combination of a $258,000 median, 51-day average marketing window, and stackable local, county, and state assistance programs makes High Point one of the strongest entry markets in North Carolina. Data sourced from Redfin High Point market and Bankrate housing market summary.

Frequently Asked Questions About DPA in High Point

How much down payment assistance can I get in High Point?
First-time buyers in High Point can stack the High Point City-Wide Homebuyer Assistance Program ($7,500 forgivable) or Core City Homebuyer Incentive Program ($7,500 forgivable, no income limit) with the Guilford County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program (forgivable loan), the $15,000 forgivable NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment, and up to 5 percent of the loan amount from the NC Home Advantage Mortgage. On a $200,000 purchase, the combined stack can exceed $30,000 in total assistance, often covering the full down payment and closing costs.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in High Point?
The NC Home Advantage Mortgage and NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment both require a minimum credit score of 640. The High Point City-Wide and Core City programs do not publish a fixed minimum credit score but require buyers to qualify for a loan through a participating lender, which typically means 620 or higher for conventional or 580 for Federal Housing Administration loans. Habitat for Humanity of High Point, Archdale and Trinity evaluates each application individually based on credit history, debt load, and two years of steady income.
Can I combine High Point programs with North Carolina state programs?
Yes. The most powerful stack for High Point first-time buyers layers the $7,500 High Point City-Wide or Core City Incentive on top of the $15,000 forgivable NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment plus up to 5 percent loan amount assistance from the NC Home Advantage Mortgage. The NC Home Advantage Tax Credit, commonly called the Mortgage Credit Certificate, can layer on top for first-time buyers, delivering up to $2,000 per year in federal income tax savings. Adding $2,000 in matched savings from the Housing Consultants Group Individual Development Account Program brings additional value at closing.
What is the maximum home price for High Point assistance programs?
The High Point City-Wide Homebuyer Assistance Program caps purchase price at 95 percent of the area median single-family home price. The High Point Core City Homebuyer Incentive Program caps purchases at $300,000 in the defined Core City. The NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment caps eligible purchases at $495,000, well above the High Point median. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage has no purchase price cap and follows the loan limits of the chosen mortgage product.
How do I apply for High Point homebuyer assistance and what is the Core City area?
Contact the City of High Point Affordable Housing Division and complete the required 8-hour homebuyer education course through the Housing Consultants Group at 804 Lindsay Street, High Point, NC 27262, phone 336-553-0946. The Core City is a defined geographic area within High Point covering older inner-city neighborhoods that the city targets for revitalization and income diversification, including parts of central and downtown High Point. The Core City map and the thePOINT mapping tool on the city website show exact eligibility boundaries.
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.