A note on timingPalmetto Heroes is closed for 2026 and no 2027 dates are announced. The year-round SC Housing Homebuyer Program still offers $10,000 in forgivable down payment help.Review my eligibility
Bluffton, SC
Down payment assistance in Bluffton, SC
The Town of Bluffton helps its own employees buy close to work, with an award that scales from $10,000 to $25,000 depending on income.
The Town of Bluffton Employee Homebuyer Assistance Program is for Town employees who have finished probation, including Bluffton Police, and who are first-time buyers. It pays up to $25,000 below 80% AMI, $20,000 from 80% to 119%, $15,000 from 120% to 139% and $10,000 at 140% or more, so even higher-earning staff get something. The home has to be in ZIP code 29909 or 29910. You bring at least $1,000, and the award is forgiven after 5 years of continued employment.
Is there money in the Bluffton fund right now?
The program lists "limited funds available." The Town budgets it each fiscal year on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's funding-dependent. Get pre-approved early and ask CommunityWorks, which administers it, how much is left before you sign a contract. If the current year's money runs out, the next fiscal year's budget is the next chance, so a Town employee who misses one cycle isn't shut out for good.
Non-Town workers have other options. Beaufort Memorial's employer program covers homes within 15 miles of one of its campuses or practices in Beaufort and Jasper counties, so check whether your address is in range. Beaufort County is a targeted county with limits of $135,600 for 1-2 people and $158,200 for 3 or more, and it's in SC Housing's County First Initiative. The $450,000 price limit tends to be the tighter rule here, so set your search range around it. Beaufort County School District teachers and Bluffton Police officers also fit Palmetto Heroes roles. Compare in the Beaufort County guide or the program finder.
Buyers in Bluffton may also turn to 5 statewide programs, Palmetto Heroes among them. You will find each one in the complete South Carolina list, or our program match can sort them for you.
Nearly every assistance program asks you to complete a homebuyer class before closing. The HUD-approved agencies below, each within reach of Beaufort County, teach that class or offer counseling before purchase.
Taken from HUD’s list of housing counseling agencies. A given program may not accept every class.
Unsure which class will count? A loan officer who offers South Carolina programs can tell you, and can begin your pre-approval at the same time. Begin my eligibility review
Questions about Bluffton
Which ZIP codes does the Bluffton employee program cover?
29909 and 29910.
Do I have to stay with the Town to keep the assistance?
Yes. The award is forgiven after 5 years of continued employment with the Town of Bluffton.
Is the Bluffton program open now?
It shows limited funds available, budgeted each fiscal year on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirm before you go under contract.
Thank you. Your name is on the list.
We will write when it reopens. Would you like to see what you may qualify for in the meantime?
Good day, I'm Amy. See if you're eligible for down payment assistance in South Carolina. The review is six short questions, and I would be glad to start you on the right one.
