City of Sumter Affordable Homebuyer Program

Two pieces of help

The City of Sumter's Housing & Economic Development office builds new stick-built homes and sells them to qualifying buyers. Two types of help come with them. The first is a grant of up to $3,000 toward closing costs. The second is a deferred gap loan of up to $35,000 at 0% that is forgivable. You still need a private first mortgage from a lender for the rest of the price.

Income limits

The limits posted on the City page are low, roughly 50% of area median, and may be out of date:

You also need responsible credit, City pre- and post-purchase counseling, and possibly 1% of the price in cash. Credit preparation tips are in our credit score guide.

Is a home available?

The City page does not say whether any homes are currently for sale, so call 803-774-1649 before planning around it. Sumter is also one of the Made It Home! locations, where SC Housing offers up to $25,000 on participating builders' new homes; that program cannot be combined with other SC Housing assistance. Whether the City's help pairs with SC Housing's DPA is not stated; a participating lender confirms whether they combine.

How the numbers can stack up: the $3,000 grant can absorb many closing costs, and the $35,000 gap loan bridges the space between what a low-income buyer can borrow and the home's price. You may still need up to 1% of the price in cash. The post-purchase counseling is part of the deal, so plan time for it after you move in.

Because the homes are new stick-built construction, you avoid many of the repair surprises that come with older houses, but you are limited to the City's inventory. Ask the City, too, whether counseling can start before a specific home is chosen.

Steps

1. Call the City to ask about available homes and current income limits.
2. Start the City's pre-purchase counseling.
3. Get approved for a private first mortgage.
4. Close with the grant and gap loan, then finish post-purchase counseling.

See the Sumter County page or check eligibility.

County guides for the area served: Sumter County

Questions about City of Sumter Affordable Homebuyer Program

Ask whether I qualify for this program

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