City of Goose Creek Employer Assisted Homebuyer Program

How much and how it is forgiven

The benefit, administered by CommunityWorks, depends on household income:

• Under 80% AMI: up to $15,000
• 80% to 100% AMI: up to $12,500
• Over 100% AMI: up to $7,500

Forgiveness is tied to your job, not just occupancy. Each year you stay employed full-time with the City, 20% is forgiven, so the whole amount is gone after 5 years.

Who qualifies

Any City of Goose Creek employee with at least a year of service. There is a geographic catch: the home must be inside Goose Creek city limits in Berkeley County. The program is for purchases only. Because forgiveness depends on staying employed, think about what happens if you change jobs in the first five years.

With other programs

Goose Creek police officers may also be eligible for state help built for public servants and for FHLBank Atlanta's Community Partners Product. Whether those combine with the City benefit is not stated; a participating lender confirms whether they combine. If you work extra shifts, see how lenders treat that income in our overtime pay guide.

An example of the forgiveness schedule: after one full year on the job post-closing, 20% of the award is forgiven; after three years, 60%; after five, all of it. An employee who leaves the City early may owe the unforgiven part. Lower earners get the most, $15,000 under 80% AMI, but even those above 100% AMI receive $7,500. Ask CommunityWorks how repayment works if you leave early, and keep pay stubs ready to show full-time status.

Note that the home itself must sit inside city limits, not just in Berkeley County, so confirm the address with the City or your agent before making an offer; some homes with a Goose Creek mailing address may fall outside the boundary. The program is for purchases, so it cannot help with a refinance later. Ask CommunityWorks which income figure they use to place you in a tier.

Next steps

1. Check your service date with City HR.
2. Look for homes inside Goose Creek limits only.
3. Get pre-approved and apply through CommunityWorks.

Explore Berkeley County, law enforcement eligibility, or check eligibility.

Questions about City of Goose Creek Employer Assisted Homebuyer Program

Ask whether I qualify for this program

Our account follows the official program page as of November 2026. Funds and rules can change, so please confirm the present terms with the program or a participating lender. South Carolina Down Payment Assistance has no connection with this program.