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City of Durham Relauches Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

DURHAM, NC – Durham residents who are in the market to buy their first home will soon be able to apply for up to $80,000 for down payment and closing costs assistance from a relaunched City of Durham Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program.  The DPA Program is funded and administered through the City of Durham, Community Development Department. 

Beginning July 31, 2023, eligible low-income persons and families will be able to apply at a local approved participating lender for financial assistance to assist with purchasing a home within the Durham city limits.  To become an approved participating DPA Program Lender, Mortgage Loan Officers and/or Brokers attended compliance training with the City of Durham, Community Development Department staff to hear and understand the DPA Program Policy and Underwriting Guidelines as well as train on the electronic platform software that applications will be submitted to on behalf of the potential homebuyer. The inaugural Approved Participating DPA Program Lender Training was held on July 26, 2023, at the City of Durham, Community Development Department. 

Eligible homebuyers may receive up to $80,000 for down payment and closing costs assistance.  Funds will be provided as a forgivable loan with 0% interest rate and a 15-year term.   Loans will be made on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants until $5.7 million in available program funding is depleted. 

To be eligible for the City of Durham DPA Program, applicants must earn 80% or below of the area median income (AMI), must not have owned a home for the past three years, and must plan to use the home as their primary residence.   

A copy of the City of Durham DPA Program Eligibility and Requirements, FY 2023 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Area Median Income Limits, and the List of Approved Participating DPA Program Lenders can be found below.   

 City of Durham DPA Program Eligibility and Requirements

FY 2023 HUD Area Median Income Limits

List of Approved Participating DPA Program Lenders 

Funding for the DPA Program is provided as part of the City’s Forever Home, Durham, a $160 million investment in affordable housing which is supported in part by a $95 million affordable housing bond approved by voters in 2019.   

For more information on how to apply to become a City of Durham Approved Participating DPA Program Lender, please use the following link to complete an Approved Participating Lender Interest Form: https://form.jotform.com/231633648920155. 

For more information about the City of Durham DPA Program, contact Erick Boyd, Senior Community Development Analyst, Neighborhood Stabilization Team, at Erick.Boyd@durhamnc.gov or call 919-560-4570, ext. 22224.  

Notice under the Americans with Disabilities Act 
Persons who require assistance to participate in government activities should contact (919) 560‐4197 or ADA@DurhamNC.gov no later than 48 hours before the event.