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Forsyth County AHOP: Deferred Down Payment Loan, First Home

Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME)Administered by Forsyth County Community & Economic Development DepartmentDeferred loanNorth Carolina

Reviewed by Tyler Thompson, holds real estate licenses in North Carolina and South Carolina

Published · Facts verified against the official source

What Is Forsyth County AHOP (Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program)?

Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME) is a North Carolina homebuyer program that provides down payment assistance and closing cost assistance for a first home. It is run by the Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department and applies to homes in Forsyth County. The help comes as a soft second mortgage, also described as a 0% deferred repayment loan, and your mortgage lender starts the application for you.

The county's page does not state a maximum assistance amount, so ask the department what a buyer can receive.

Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME) at a glance

Kind of help
A deferred loan.
Interest and forgiveness
0% interest.
Income limit
The program publishes its own income limits by county and household size.
First-time buyers only?
Yes. You must be a first-time buyer.
Credit
Applicants must have an acceptable credit rating, no unpaid judgments, and a verifiable source of consistent income. The County does not state a numeric minimum credit score on the public page.
Home price limit
Homes priced up to $305,000.
Where
Forsyth County.
Homebuyer education
Required.
Buyer contribution
At least $1,000 of your own money
Current funding status
Funding status could not be confirmed.
Who runs it
Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department

Check your eligibility

Answer a few quick questions to see whether Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME) and other North Carolina programs may fit you.

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How Much Does Forsyth County AHOP Give for a Down Payment?

The record does not state a maximum amount or a percentage of the purchase price. The county describes the help as funds for down payment and closing costs, so the amount in your case is something to confirm with the Community & Economic Development Department before you count on it.

The program does set a cap on the price of the home you buy. Existing and new construction have different price limits, and the table above shows the figure the county gives.

Who Qualifies for Forsyth County AHOP?

These are the program's rules as the county states them:

  • Income: total household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Household income, using the county's income limit table by household size.
  • First-time buyers: the program assists people buying their first home, and you must not already own a home.
  • Credit: an acceptable credit rating and no unpaid judgments. The county does not state a numeric minimum credit score.
  • Income source: a verifiable source of consistent income.
  • Your own money: at least $1,000 toward the purchase, not counting gift funds or seller-paid costs.
  • Property types: single family and manufactured homes. Existing construction must pass inspections and meet the county's property condition guidelines.
  • Homebuyer education: an approved homeownership class and a home maintenance session.

The Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department makes the final decision on who qualifies.

Is Forsyth County AHOP a Grant or a Loan?

It is a loan, not a grant. AHOP assistance is a soft second mortgage, or a 0% deferred repayment loan, so there is no interest and repayment is deferred.

The county's page does not state a forgiveness period or the events that make repayment due, such as selling or refinancing. Ask the department for the exact repayment terms before you sign.

Where Can You Use Forsyth County AHOP?

The home must be located in Forsyth County. Compare other North Carolina down payment assistance programs if you are looking at a home elsewhere.

Alamance CountyAlexander CountyAlleghany CountyAnson CountyAshe CountyAvery CountyBeaufort CountyBertie CountyBladen CountyBrunswick CountyBuncombe CountyBurke CountyCabarrus CountyCaldwell CountyCamden CountyCarteret CountyCaswell CountyCatawba CountyChatham CountyCherokee CountyChowan CountyClay CountyCleveland CountyColumbus CountyCraven CountyCumberland CountyCurrituck CountyDare CountyDavidson CountyDavie CountyDuplin CountyDurham CountyEdgecombe CountyForsyth CountyFranklin CountyGaston CountyGates CountyGraham CountyGranville CountyGreene CountyGuilford CountyHalifax CountyHarnett CountyHaywood CountyHenderson CountyHertford CountyHoke CountyHyde CountyIredell CountyJackson CountyJohnston CountyJones CountyLee CountyLenoir CountyLincoln CountyMcDowell CountyMacon CountyMadison CountyMartin CountyMecklenburg CountyMitchell CountyMontgomery CountyMoore CountyNash CountyNew Hanover CountyNorthampton CountyOnslow CountyOrange CountyPamlico CountyPasquotank CountyPender CountyPerquimans CountyPerson CountyPitt CountyPolk CountyRandolph CountyRichmond CountyRobeson CountyRockingham CountyRowan CountyRutherford CountySampson CountyScotland CountyStanly CountyStokes CountySurry CountySwain CountyTransylvania CountyTyrrell CountyUnion CountyVance CountyWake CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWatauga CountyWayne CountyWilkes CountyWilson CountyYadkin CountyYancey County
Covers Forsyth County. Where the program applies, from its approved record.

How to Apply for Forsyth County AHOP

Start with a mortgage lender. The county asks that your lender contact the Community & Economic Development Department to open the down payment assistance application on your behalf.

Before closing you complete the homeownership class, and the county also requires a home maintenance session after purchase. Funding status is listed as unknown on our last check on October 3, 2026, because the county's page does not say whether funds are currently available, so ask the department when you start. See which programs may fit you.

Questions about Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME)

What is the income limit for Forsyth County AHOP?

Your total household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Household income. The county publishes the maximum by household size, effective June 1, 2026.

How much down payment assistance does Forsyth County AHOP give?

The county's page does not state a maximum amount. Contact the Community & Economic Development Department to learn what a buyer can receive.

Can repeat buyers use Forsyth County AHOP?

No. The program helps people buy their first home, and you must not already own a home.

Does Forsyth County AHOP pay closing costs?

Yes. The program provides funds for both down payment and closing costs on your first home.

Do you have to pay back Forsyth County AHOP?

Yes, it is a loan. It is a soft second mortgage, also described as a 0% deferred repayment loan, and the county does not state a forgiveness period on its page.

How do you apply for Forsyth County AHOP?

Your mortgage lender contacts the Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department to start the application on your behalf.

What credit score do you need for Forsyth County AHOP?

The county does not state a numeric minimum credit score. It asks for an acceptable credit rating, no unpaid judgments and a verifiable source of consistent income.

Complete Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME) program record

The nineteen things a buyer needs to know, in the same order on every program page, each checked against the program’s official sources. Where the program does not state one, this says so.

  • 19 program details reviewed; 15 stated by the program
  • 3 official sources checked from Forsyth County
  • Last verified October 3, 2026
  • Current funding status could not be confirmed
View all 19 verified program details ↓

  1. 1 of 19

    Program name

    Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME)

    From the official source

  2. 2 of 19

    Who runs it

    Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department

    336-703-2678

    greenbl@forsyth.cc

    From the official source

  3. 3 of 19

    Kind of help

    A deferred loan.

    Down payment and closing-cost assistance for eligible mortgage-ready homebuyers purchasing their first home.

    From the official source

  4. 4 of 19

    Maximum amount

    The program does not state this. Ask the administrator before relying on it.

  5. 5 of 19

    Amount tiers

    The program does not state this. Ask the administrator before relying on it.

  6. 6 of 19

    Forgiveness, interest and term

    0% interest.

    AHOP/HOME assistance is provided as a soft second mortgage or 0% deferred repayment loan.

    From the official source

  7. 7 of 19

    Income limit

    The program publishes its own income limits by county and household size.

    Maximum annual income limits for down payment assistance are 80% of Area Median Income, effective June 1, 2026: 1 person $53,400; 2 $61,000; 3 $68,650; 4 $76,250; 5 $82,350; 6 $88,450; 7 $94,550; 8 $100,650.

    From the official source

  8. 8 of 19

    First-time buyer rule

    Yes. You must be a first-time buyer.

    Forsyth County describes AHOP as assisting homebuyers with purchasing their first home and states applicants must not already own a home.

    From the official source

  9. 9 of 19

    Maximum home price

    Homes priced up to $305,000.

    Effective December 1, 2025, maximum sales price is $268,000 for existing construction and $305,000 for new construction.

    From the official source

  10. 10 of 19

    Other must-know rules

    Eligible property types: single family, manufactured.

    Homebuyers must contribute at least $1,000 toward the purchase, excluding gift funds or seller-paid costs. Existing construction must pass inspections and property-condition guidelines.

    From the official source
    • “Homebuyers are required to contribute a minimum of $1,000 towards the purchase, excluding any gift funds or seller paid costs.”

      https://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/housing/faqs.aspx · First Time Home Buyers > Will I need to have any money saved?

    • “Newly Constructed Existing Construction (NOTE: Property MUST pass all inspections and meet Property Condition guidelines) New Manufactured”

      https://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/housing/faqs.aspx · First Time Home Buyers > What types of homes may be purchased?

  11. 11 of 19

    Where it applies

    Forsyth County.

    The home must be located in Forsyth County.

    From the official source

  12. 12 of 19

    Current funding status

    Funding status could not be confirmed.

    The current County page describes AHOP and its lender application process, but does not explicitly state that AHOP funds are currently available or provide a remaining balance.

    Checked 2026-10-03.

    From the official source

  13. 13 of 19

    How to apply

    The homebuyer's mortgage lender must contact Forsyth County Community & Economic Development to start the down payment assistance application on the buyer's behalf.

    From the official source

  14. 14 of 19

    Official source

    https://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/housing/firsttimehomebuyers.aspx

  15. 15 of 19

    Dates

    Current income limits are effective June 1, 2026. Current maximum sales-price limits are effective December 1, 2025.

    From the official source

  16. 16 of 19

    Report a mistake

    Use the form on this page.

  17. 17 of 19

    Credit requirements

    Applicants must have an acceptable credit rating, no unpaid judgments, and a verifiable source of consistent income. The County does not state a numeric minimum credit score on the public page.

    From the official source

  18. 18 of 19

    Eligible loan types

    The program does not state this. Ask the administrator before relying on it.

  19. 19 of 19

    Homebuyer education

    Required.

    Applicants must complete an eight-hour Homeownership Class before closing and a Home Maintenance Session and post-purchase session after closing; the FAQ also states an approved 8-10 hour Homebuyer Education Workshop and a two-hour Home Maintenance Workshop are required before assistance.

    From the official source

Report a mistake

If a figure here does not match the program’s own terms, tell us. Every report is read by a person and checked against the official source before the record changes.

A link to the official page or document helps most. Please do not include account numbers, your Social Security number or other financial details.

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Programs differ in how much they give, who they are for, where they apply and how they are repaid. These may be worth comparing.

Compare all North Carolina programs →

Official sources for Forsyth County Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program (AHOP/HOME)

The facts on this page were taken from these sources. Read the program’s own terms there before you rely on a figure.

Visit the official source →

Program rules can change. Confirm current terms with Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department or a participating lender before you rely on a figure. Record version 1.

Educational information, not a loan offer or an eligibility decision. Read the disclaimer or how we verify programs.