About This South Carolina Down Payment Assistance Site
Straight, current information on SC Housing, from a lender who originates these loans directly, not a lead broker.
Why this site exists
Search "down payment assistance in South Carolina" and you will hit pages that quote out-of-date amounts, assume you must be a first-time buyer, or miss the First-Generation program. We keep this site current to the actual SC Housing rules, the forgivable Homebuyer Program, the flexible Palmetto Home Advantage, the First-Generation help, and the 640 credit floor, and we confirm the current amounts directly with SC Housing rather than quote a stale figure. When it is not the right fit, we say so.
What we do
- Originate SC Housing loans directly, the Homebuyer Program and Palmetto Home Advantage, on FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional.
- Match the program to your situation, forgivable vs. flexible, first-time vs. repeat, first-generation help.
- Serve South Carolina statewide, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, and every county.
- Give honest tradeoff advice, including when saving your own down payment beats taking assistance.
Who you work with
Mike Certo is a branch manager and licensed mortgage loan officer with Cornerstone First Mortgage (NMLS #260555; company NMLS #173855). He is an approved participating lender for SC Housing and closes these loans across the state. This site is an educational resource, not the program administrator; the programs are run by the SC State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing).
Have a question? Talk to Mike
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your South Carolina path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.