First-time home buyer programs in South Carolina
South Carolina's Palmetto Home Advantage is unusually flexible: forgivable down payment assistance with no sales-price cap, open to first-time and repeat buyers across all 46 counties. The 2026 Palmetto Heroes track adds $10,000 in assistance for public servants.
Brokers in our network can pair these programs with competing loan offers — free, no obligation.
Palmetto Home Advantage
Forgivable assistance with no first-time-buyer requirement and no sales-price limit.
- Down payment assistance of 3% or 4% of the loan amount, forgivable over 10 years
- No monthly payment and 0% interest on the assistance
- Minimum 640 credit score; 2026 borrower income limit $135,750 statewide
- Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA options
Palmetto Heroes (2026)
SC Housing's annual program for the state's public servants.
- $10,000 in down payment assistance
- For teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, nurses, veterans, and other public servants
- Below-market fixed rates while annual funding lasts
- First-time buyer rules apply in most counties
Program terms, income limits, and funding availability change throughout the year — confirm current details with SC Housing or a licensed South Carolina broker before relying on them.
Pair assistance with an FHA loan in South Carolina
Most South Carolina first-time buyers combine down payment assistance with an FHA first mortgage. 2026 FHA one-unit limits run from $541,287 (the national floor) up to $690,000 in Charleston.
See all 2026 South Carolina FHA loan limits →Find a broker in your South Carolina market
Local brokers know which programs are funded right now and how to stack them:
South Carolina first-time buyer FAQ
Do I need to be a first-time buyer in South Carolina?
Not for Palmetto Home Advantage — it's open to first-time, move-up, and repeat buyers statewide. The annual Palmetto Heroes program generally does apply first-time buyer rules.
How much assistance does SC Housing provide?
Palmetto Home Advantage offers forgivable assistance of 3% or 4% of your loan amount with no monthly payment, forgiven over 10 years. Palmetto Heroes provides a flat $10,000 for qualifying public servants while each year's funding lasts.
Is there a home-price limit in South Carolina's program?
Palmetto Home Advantage has no sales-price limit — qualification is based on a $135,750 borrower income cap (2026) and a 640 minimum score, not the price of the home.
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