ATL Home Renovation Advantage
Open nowCity of Atlanta
- For
- Buyers using a home renovation mortgage
- Amount
- $10,000 toward down payment and/or closing costs
- Kind
- Forgivable loan
- Income cap
- 120% AMI ($141,360 family of 4)
- Price cap
- $450,000
- First-time buyers only?
- No
- Also required
- Forgiven after 5 years; $1,200 education fee; renovation class with Resources for Residents & Communities or Committed to Communities; liquid assets max $35,000
Last checked November 2026 · our sources
Check whether I fitHow Renovation Advantage works
This is a $10,000 forgivable loan for down payment and/or closing costs, forgiven after five years. It is built for one situation: you're buying a home in the City of Atlanta and rolling the cost of repairs into a renovation mortgage. That makes it a fit for older homes that won't pass a standard inspection, which many other programs can't touch (Gwinnett's Homestretch, for example, rules out 203(k) and repair loans).
Who qualifies
- The home is inside City of Atlanta limits, in Fulton or DeKalb County
- Price of $450,000 or less
- Household income up to 120% AMI ($141,360 for a family of four)
- Liquid assets of $35,000 or less
- A renovation class with Resources for Residents & Communities or Committed to Communities, with a $1,200 education fee
A first-time buyer requirement isn't listed.
What it is not
Renovation Advantage doesn't pay for the repairs themselves; the renovation mortgage does that. The $10,000 covers what you bring to closing. It also doesn't stack with Georgia Dream: Invest Atlanta says its incentives can't be used with Georgia Dream, NACA, or DeKalb or Fulton County assistance. Some Invest Atlanta incentives can combine with each other under specific circumstances, and VCRI also allows renovation mortgages, so a Vine City buyer should ask a participating lender whether both apply.
Why the price cap matters on a renovation
The $450,000 price limit is generous compared with most local programs in metro Atlanta, but plan carefully if your purchase price plus repairs runs close to it. Ask your lender how the price limit is measured with a renovation loan before you finalize bids. The five-year forgiveness period starts at closing, so buyers who plan to live in the home through and after the renovation get the full benefit. Because the class and the $1,200 fee come before closing, start them while you're still house hunting.
How to apply
Find a lender that offers renovation mortgages and is an Invest Atlanta participating lender. Get contractor bids early, since the renovation budget affects your loan amount and price cap. Enroll in the renovation class and budget the $1,200 fee. Our loan types guide compares the loan types, or check eligibility.
Counties on this site where it applies: Fulton County, DeKalb County.
Common questions about ATL Home Renovation Advantage
Who can use Renovation Advantage?
City of Atlanta buyers using a home renovation mortgage, with income up to 120% AMI and a price up to $450,000.
Is there an education fee?
Yes, $1,200, for a renovation class with Resources for Residents & Communities or Committed to Communities.
When is it forgiven?
See if this one could work for me
Programs people compare with this one
Our summary of the official program page as of November 2026. Money and terms change, so check the current details with the program or a participating lender. Georgia Down Payment Assistance has no connection to this program.
