City of Savannah
City of Savannah employees below department-head level can get up to $15,000 as a 0% loan, forgiven after five years if they still work for the city and live in the home.
City of Savannah
0% loan forgiven after 5 years if still a city employee and owner-occupant; forgiven amount reported as W-2 income; can be combined with DreamMaker; home must be in city limits. Covers Savannah Police and Fire (city employees).
Last checked November 2026 · our sources
Check whether I fitThe help is a 0% loan of up to $15,000, forgiven after five years as long as you're still a city employee and still living in the home. One detail many buyers miss: the forgiven amount is reported as W-2 income, so you may owe income tax on it in the year it's forgiven. Plan for that, or ask a tax preparer how it will hit your return.
Any City of Savannah employee below the department-head level who is in good standing can apply. That includes Savannah Police and Savannah Fire, since they're city departments. The home must be inside Savannah city limits; a house in unincorporated Chatham County or a neighboring city won't qualify. School district teachers aren't city employees, so this program isn't for them; they should look at Georgia Dream PEN on our teachers page.
The city says this program can be combined with DreamMaker, which lends first-time buyers up to $30,000 (or $50,000 for City partner housing). A first-time buyer on the city payroll could therefore pair the two. Keep in mind that DreamMaker is a 2% deferred loan you repay, while this one is forgiven. Whether either works with Georgia Dream PEN isn't stated, so a participating lender confirms whether they combine. Officers and firefighters can see PEN rules on the police and firefighters pages.
Forgiveness depends on staying employed with the city and living in the home for five years. If you change jobs or move out early, expect to repay the balance; the city confirms the exact terms in your loan documents.
Department heads and above aren't eligible, and you need to be in good standing with the city when you apply. Ask HR to confirm both before you start shopping for homes.
Check with city HR or Housing & Neighborhood Services, confirm the home is in city limits, and if you're a first-time buyer, ask about DreamMaker in the same conversation. Our overtime and shift pay guide explains shift pay, or check eligibility.
Yes. Police and fire are city departments, so their employees below department-head level qualify.
The city reports the forgiven amount as W-2 income.
Yes. The city says the employee program can be combined with DreamMaker.
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