The Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) provides qualified home buyers with down payment assistance:
- Up to 25% of the sales price, not to exceed $50,000 (effective Sept. 1, 2022), when combined with a NC Home Advantage Mortgage™.
- Up to 10% of the purchase price when combined with a USDA’s Section 502 loan.
CPLP assistance is structured as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. The term of the CPLP loan matches the term of the first mortgage. The CPLP Loan has no monthly payment and is typically repaid when the home is sold or at the end of the loan term.
Borrowers may combine a CPLP loan with the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment or the NC Home Advantage Tax Credit as well as with other down payment assistance loans or grants.
The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency allocates funds to support the CPLP program on an annual basis. For 2024, the Agency has budgeted up to $10 million to assist CPLP eligible home buyers. These funds are available after January 1, 2024.
Eligible Home Buyers:
- Total household income cannot exceed 80% of the Area Median Income for the county in which they intend to purchase a home.
- Borrower must have proof of sufficient, stable income to afford and maintain their potential home.
- Borrower must have a minimum credit score of 640.
- Borrower’s housing ratio must be between 20% to 32% and Total Debt-to-Income ratio may not exceed 45%.
- Borrower must complete an approved home buyer education course and receive at least two hours of in-person housing counseling.
- Potentially eligible borrowers must contact a CPLP member to establish an agreed upon home ownership readiness plan for education and in-person counseling before signing a sales contract on a property.
NOTE: Potential buyers should contact a CPLP member as soon as possible to develop a home ownership readiness and to review the CPLP housing quality standards for existing homes before they sign a sales contract on a property.
Requirement for Home Buyer Education
Home ownership is both a great opportunity and a big responsibility. The NC Housing Finance Agency wants to help individuals and families not just buy a home but to be successful homeowners. That’s why we require every borrower using CPLP funds to complete an approved home buyer education course and receive at least two hours of one-on-one in-person pre-purchase counseling before they can be approved for assistance.
Most borrowers complete an in-person or virtual home buyer education class offered by the CPLP member. Items covered include the pros and cons of home ownership, household budgeting and the importance of credit, working with a lender, various programs to help first-time home buyers and home maintenance.
Please note that all CPLP borrowers must also complete at least two hours of one-on-one in-person pre-purchase counseling provided by the CPLP member. The in-person counseling session will include an assessment of the borrower’s readiness to become a homeowner and development of an action plan to purchase a home that is affordable.
Borrowers should contact a CPLP member to discuss their home buyer education and counseling options.
Eligible Homes:
- Newly constructed and existing homes that do not exceed the Sales Price Limit for the county.
- All newly constructed homes must receive a Certificate of Occupancy (less than 12 months old at the time of closing).
- All existing homes must pass two inspections: (1) a Home Inspection by a licensed NC home inspector; and (2) a Local Housing Code Inspection. In the absence of a local Housing Code, a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) Inspection may be substituted.
- Any significant deficiencies identified that threaten property or borrower must be repaired before assistance can be approved. Replacement of major building systems may be required for the home to be eligible for CPLP.
NOTE: An existing, older home that has been comprehensively rehabilitated and will receive a Certificate of Occupancy will be treated like a newly constructed home.
Applying for CPLP Assistance:
Interested home buyers must contact a local CPLP member for further assistance. If the Member determines the borrower is potentially eligible and the home to be purchased meets program guidelines, they will apply for CPLP assistance on behalf of the home buyer(s). Please note that the Agency will only accept applications submitted by a CPLP Member.
Home buyers(s) must allow enough time (usually more than 60 days) for the CPLP Member to evaluate their readiness to purchase a home, provide home buyer education and in-person counseling, collect documents and review the home inspections.
NOTE: Potential buyers should contact a CPLP Member as soon as possible to develop a home ownership readiness plan and to review CPLP housing quality standards for existing homes before they sign a sales contract on a property.
Member Responsibilities and Fees:
CPLP Members provide a variety of services including:
- Verifying home buyer eligibility and that the home to be purchase meets program guidelines.
- Providing home ownership education and in-person counseling.
- Collecting and submitting the required CPLP documentation to the Agency on behalf of the borrower.
- Coordinating the loan closing working with the closing attorney, home buyer and first mortgage lender.
The Agency pays the CPLP member a service fee of $2,000 for each CPLP loan closed.
In addition, CPLP members who develop homes certified under SystemVision or other approved Green Building standards may be eligible to receive the following fees:
- Up to a $5,000 for meeting SystemVision™ standards for New Homes.
- Up to a $6,000 for meeting SystemVision™ standards for Existing Homes.
- $1,000 for meeting any of the five Agency-approved Green Building standards.
Organizations interested in becoming a CPLP member need to complete and submit a membership application, which can be downloaded from the CPLP Forms and Resources page. CPLP Membership is open to North Carolina-based nonprofit organizations and government agencies, local or regional, that
- develop affordable homes for-sale to low- and moderate-income households, or
- provide HUD-approved home ownership education and in-person counseling, or
- manage a home ownership program for low- and moderate-income home buyers.
If you have any questions, please contact Community Partner Coordinator Vedera Mimms (919-877-5655) or Kari Rudolph (919-500-5234).
