DownPaymentMap

Winston-Salem NC Down Payment Assistance: IDA Savings Match

Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match ProgramAdministered by Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc.AssistanceNorth Carolina

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

Published · Facts verified against the official source

The program was closed when we checked on . Confirm with Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc. before you count on it.

What Is the New Century IDA Match Program in Forsyth County?

The Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program is a North Carolina homebuyer program that gives down payment assistance as matched savings, up to $4,000. It is run by Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc. (ESR) for residents of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, and Forsyth County lists it as part of its first-time homebuyer assistance.

You save your own money, and the program adds a match on top. It comes with economic literacy training, first-time homebuyer training, success coaching and financial education.

Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program at a glance

Maximum help
Up to $4,000.
Kind of help
A assistance.
Income limit
Household income up to 80% of the area median income for your county and household size.
First-time buyers only?
Yes. You must be a first-time buyer.
Where
Forsyth County.
Homebuyer education
Required.
Current funding status
The program is closed.
Who runs it
Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc.

Check your eligibility

Answer a few quick questions to see whether Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program and other North Carolina programs may fit you.

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How Much Does the New Century IDA Match Give Toward a Down Payment?

Forsyth County describes the homeownership IDA as a 1:2 or 1:4 matched-savings program. You are encouraged to save $2,000 of your own funds and receive $2,000, or up to $4,000, when you complete the program.

The record does not say how ESR decides which match a participant receives.

Who Qualifies for the New Century IDA Match Program?

These are the program's rules as ESR and Forsyth County state them:

  • Income: Total household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income, using the County's current table.
  • First-time buyers: Required. You must not already own a home.
  • Residency: Participants must live in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.
  • Income source: A verifiable source of consistent income.
  • Application: A completed IDA Application and Consent Form, a recent tri-merge credit report and a non-refundable $50 application fee.
  • Classes: An eight-hour Homeownership Class at the Center for Homeownership and monthly IDA classes with a Success Coach.
  • Credit score: The record does not state a minimum.

ESR decides who qualifies.

Is the New Century IDA a Grant or a Loan?

It is matched savings rather than a loan. The match is paid when you complete the program, and the record states no interest rate and no repayment terms.

Where Can You Use the New Century IDA Match in North Carolina?

ESR requires participants to be residents of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. It is not offered in other counties. To compare programs elsewhere, see other North Carolina down payment assistance programs.

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 the New Century IDA Match Program

ESR's New Century IDA page says the application period is closed. While it is closed, complete ESR's interest form to be notified when the next period opens. When it opens, you attend an information session and submit the application and consent materials, a credit report and the program documents.

Funding status was last checked on October 3, 2026 and was closed. In the meantime, a county program may fit sooner: see Forsyth County's AHOP deferred loan or the eligibility check.

Questions about Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program

What is the income limit for the New Century IDA Match Program?

Total household income must be at or below 80% of Area Median Income, using Forsyth County's current table.

How much does the New Century IDA Match give?

Up to $4,000. It is a 1:2 or 1:4 match: you are encouraged to save $2,000 and receive $2,000 or up to $4,000 on completion.

Can repeat buyers use the New Century IDA Match Program?

No. It is for first-time homebuyers, and the applicant must not already own a home.

Is the New Century IDA Match Program open for applications now?

No. ESR's page says the application period is closed, as last checked on October 3, 2026. You can complete an interest form to be notified when the next period opens.

Is the New Century IDA available outside Forsyth County?

No. ESR requires participants to be residents of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.

Does the New Century IDA Match Program require homebuyer education?

Yes. It requires an eight-hour Homeownership Class at the Center for Homeownership and monthly IDA classes with a Success Coach.

Complete Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program 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; 13 stated by the program
  • 2 official sources checked from Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc., Forsyth County
  • Last verified October 3, 2026
  • Current funding status: the program is closed
View all 19 verified program details ↓

  1. 1 of 19

    Program name

    Forsyth County / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program

    From the official source

  2. 2 of 19

    Who runs it

    Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc.

    336-722-9400

    From the official source

  3. 3 of 19

    Kind of help

    A assistance.

    Matched savings toward a home down payment combined with economic literacy, first-time homebuyer training, success coaching, and financial education.

    From the official source

  4. 4 of 19

    Maximum amount

    Up to $4,000.

    Forsyth County states the homeownership IDA is a 1:2 or 1:4 matched-savings program encouraging participants to save $2,000 of their own funds and receive $2,000 or up to $4,000 upon completion.

    From the official source

  5. 5 of 19

    Amount tiers

    The amount varies by tier.

    {"match_options":["1:2","1:4"],"maximum_match_usd":4000,"participant_savings_goal_usd":2000}

    From the official source

  6. 6 of 19

    Forgiveness, interest and term

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

  7. 7 of 19

    Income limit

    Household income up to 80% of the area median income for your county and household size.

    Forsyth County states homeownership IDA applicants must have total household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income; its current table is effective June 1, 2026.

    From the official source

  8. 8 of 19

    First-time buyer rule

    Yes. You must be a first-time buyer.

    Forsyth County describes the IDA as a program for first-time homebuyers preparing for homeownership and requires that the applicant not already own a home.

    From the official source

  9. 9 of 19

    Maximum home price

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

  10. 10 of 19

    Other must-know rules

    ESR requires a completed IDA Application and Consent Form, a recent tri-merge credit report, income eligibility, and a non-refundable $50 application fee. Forsyth County requires a verifiable source of consistent income.

    From the official source
    • “Provide a completed IDA Application and Consent Form. Obtain a recent tri-merge credit report. Meet income guidelines and other program requirements. Pay a non-refundable $50 application fee.”

      https://www.eisr.org/new-century-ida · Requirements

  11. 11 of 19

    Where it applies

    Forsyth County.

    ESR requires participants to be residents of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; Forsyth County identifies the program as part of its first-time homebuyer assistance.

    From the official source

  12. 12 of 19

    Current funding status

    The program is closed.

    ESR's current New Century IDA page states that the application period is closed and directs interested people to complete an interest form for notification when the next period opens.

    Checked 2026-10-03.

    From the official source

  13. 13 of 19

    How to apply

    Complete ESR's New Century IDA interest form while applications are closed. When the application period opens, applicants attend an information session and submit the required application/consent materials, credit report, and program documents.

    From the official source

  14. 14 of 19

    Official source

    https://www.eisr.org/new-century-ida

  15. 15 of 19

    Dates

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

  16. 16 of 19

    Report a mistake

    Use the form on this page.

  17. 17 of 19

    Credit requirements

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

  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.

    Forsyth County requires an eight-hour Homeownership Class at the Center for Homeownership and monthly IDA classes with a Success Coach; ESR also states participants receive economic literacy and first-time-homebuyer training.

    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.

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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 / Experiment in Self-Reliance New Century IDA Match Program

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 Experiment in Self-Reliance, Inc. 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.