Richland County Home Ownership Assistance

     *** The down payment assistance program is temporarily on hold until further notice. 

*** Click here to sign-up for the first orientation in March. Please keep in mind that children are unable to attend due to limited seating and time is essential, please be prompt.

 

Goal

The goal of the Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program is to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to make homeownership possible in Richland County. To receive an application of assistance, you must attend an orientation.

Purpose

The Richland County Homeownership Assistance Program (RCHAP) provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing a home in unincorporated Richland County.

Program Priority

Richland County Community Development, RCHAP program's priority is to make homeownership opportunities available to low-to-moderate income households. Through our assistance program, we provide forgivable loans of up to $24,500 to support closing costs and/or down payments for the purchase of a single-family home, empowering families to achieve long-term housing stability.

Qualifications to be Eligible

• Must be a resident of South Carolina
• Cannot have a contract on a house until after completing program requirements
• Must be qualified as a household of low to moderate income; our program uses the 80% limits. (limits change yearly)
• Must be a first-time homebuyer or have not own property for the last 3 years. 

 

HUD Income Limits 2024 Columbia SC (Richland County) Metro FMR Area
# Of Persons in Household	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
80% Limits	$48,650	$55,600	$62,550	$69,500	$75,100	$80,650	$8,200	$91,750
50% Limits	$30,450	$34,800	$39,150	$43,450	$46,950	$50,450	$53,900	$57,400
30% Limits	$18,250	$20,850	$25,820	$31,200	$36,580	$41,960	$47,340	$52,720

 

 

Eligible Properties

 

• Must be a single - family detached dwelling located in the unincorporated areas of Richland County.
• The selected properties must be built after 1978. 
• Each property must be able to pass a rigid inspection that will guarantee the home is livable, safe and does not require immediate repair.
• Max purchase price: Existing home price: $228,000 & New Construction: $273,000

Loan Assistance

      The assistance will be provided as a deferred, forgivable, second mortgage.

      Approved applicants must live in the home for five (5) years from the time of closing for the loan to be forgiven.  (If the applicant does not use the home as the primary residence for the five-year period, the assistance must be repaid based on a prorated formula.)

      The maximum Loan amount is up to $24,500

 

Program Requirements

PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS TO AVOID DISRUPTION IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Pre-Orientation Checklist

     Please ensure that your annual income does not EXCEED the 80% limits presented on the table above.

    No contract is to be ratified on a home without acceptance into the RCHAP program

   If you are working with a realtor, make sure they are knowledgeable of the RCHAP process to maximize efficiency in the home buying process

   Must be able to secure a mortgage, independent of a co-signer ( Pre-approval letter must be within 30 days of the issued date for application submission)

 

STEP 1: All applicants must attend the RCHAP Program Orientation to receive the official RCHAP application.  

Click here to view the 2025 RCHAP Program Orientation schedule

*Registration will open PROMPTLY on Eventbrite, after the 24th.

 

STEP 2: Once you've received the RCHAP application, you must attend the home buying classes.  The certificate is valid for one year from the listed date.   You may attend classes after orientation.

STEP 3:  After attending the RCHAP Orientation, attending the home buying classes, and a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender, you may submit the application.  Please refer to the application checklist you received during the RCHAP Orientation with the required paperwork needed to submit your application. No application will be accepted without ALL the required documents.

 

*** The $50 application processing fee is non-refundable.

STEP 4:  Once the application is submitted with ALL the required paperwork, the application process takes up to 10  business days. Please note the application approval time when considering your home-buying process.   

 

All applicants will receive written notification when the processing of the application is complete.

FAQ's (click here to view)

RCHAP Policies and Procedures ( click here to view)

 

Please submit completed applications to:

Richland County Community Development Division
2020 Hampton Street, Suite 3058
Columbia, SC 29204

For more information, call (803) 576-2091

 

****Please continue to check our website for updated information.