Down payment assistance
The Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)
CPLP is a North Carolina Housing Finance Agency program built for lower-income buyers, and it’s the largest chunk of down payment help the state offers — up to 25% of the sales price, capped at $50,000. In exchange for that size, the income limits are tighter and you apply through a nonprofit community partner rather than a regular lender. I’m Frank L Coxx, a licensed North Carolina broker with NorthGroup Real Estate, and I’ll help you figure out whether it’s a realistic fit.
How much, and how it’s paid back
CPLP provides up to 25% of the sales price, not to exceed $50,000 (up to 10% when paired with a USDA Section 502 loan). It’s a 0%-interest, deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. Unlike a forgivable program, it isn’t written off over time — the term matches your first mortgage, and the balance is repaid when you sell the home or reach the end of the loan term. It has to be combined with an NC Home Advantage Mortgage or a USDA Section 502 loan.
Who qualifies (current as of 2026)
- Household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for the county you’re buying in — this is an income-limited program, so the cap is lower than NCHFA’s standard loans.
- Minimum credit score of 640.
- Housing ratio of 28%–32% and a total debt-to-income ratio that can’t exceed 45%.
- You must complete homebuyer education plus in-person, one-on-one pre-purchase counseling from a HUD-approved provider.
- The home must be your primary residence.
You apply through a community partner
This is the part that surprises people: you don’t go straight to a lender for CPLP. Only approved CPLP member organizations — nonprofits and housing agencies around the state — can submit an application on your behalf. You contact one of those partners, they walk you through the counseling and paperwork, and they package the CPLP second alongside your NC Home Advantage or USDA first mortgage. I can help you find the right partner for the Charlotte area and represent you on the purchase itself.
CPLP, NCHFA’s $15k, or Chenoa?
They fit different buyers. CPLP offers the most money but has the tightest income cap and the extra counseling and community-partner steps. The standard NCHFA $15,000 is simpler and has a higher income limit. The Chenoa Fund has no income cap at all but smaller assistance. Which one wins depends entirely on your income and how long you plan to stay — worth running all three.
What I do, and what a lender or partner does
I’m a broker, not a lender or a CPLP member organization, so I won’t quote a rate, a payment, or a guarantee of approval — the community partner and lender handle eligibility and the loan. What I do is make sure this option is on the table, point you to the right partner, and represent you through the offer, inspections, and closing.
Program details are current as of 2026 and summarized from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. Amounts and income limits change; this page is not a loan offer, a rate quote, or a guarantee of eligibility. Confirm current program terms with a CPLP member organization or at nchfa.com.
Think CPLP might fit?
Tell me a little about your situation and I'll help you find a community partner and a lender — no pressure, just a straight answer about whether it's realistic.