Clayton County Downpayment Assistance Program
Open nowClayton County
- For
- First-time buyers (or no home owned in last 3 years) at or below 80% AMI
- Amount
- Up to $7,500; up to $10,000 for veterans/spouses, Clayton County employees, and Georgia law enforcement, first responders, healthcare and education workers
- Kind
- Forgivable loan
- Income cap
- 80% AMI (HUD HOME limits effective June 1, 2026)
- Price cap
- $270,000
- First-time buyers only?
- Yes
- Also required
- 0% soft second; forgiven after 5 or 10 years depending on amount; 8-hour HUD-approved class; HUD preferred lender; $1,000 buyer contribution; single-family, no condos or mobile homes; approved closing attorney; no cash back
Contact HUD@claytoncountyga.gov, (770) 473-5914. 2026 lender list and workshop schedule posted.
Last checked November 2026 · our sources
Check whether I fitHow it works
The help is a 0% soft second mortgage paid for with federal HOME funds through the Office of Grants Administration. It is forgiven after five or 10 years, depending on the amount you receive. There's no monthly payment and no cash back at closing.
Who qualifies
Buyers must be first-time (or haven't owned a home in three years) with income at or below 80% AMI, using HUD HOME limits effective June 1, 2026. The price cap is $270,000. The home must be a single-family house; condos and mobile homes aren't allowed. You'll also need:
- An 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer class
- A HUD preferred lender from the county's 2026 list
- A $1,000 buyer contribution
- An approved closing attorney
The higher $10,000 level applies to veterans and their spouses, Clayton County employees, and Georgia law enforcement, first responders, healthcare and education workers. The rules are otherwise the same; the public servant tier page covers it in detail.
Using it with Georgia Dream and other help
Clayton is part of the Atlanta metro area for Georgia Dream, so PEN's limits there are $137,555 (1-2 people) and $625,000. The county page doesn't say whether its assistance layers with Georgia Dream, so a participating lender confirms whether they combine. Because the county cap is $270,000, any home you buy with both would need to meet the lower county limit. More on local prices is on the Clayton County page.
Single-family only: what that rules out
The single-family rule is stricter than many programs. Condominiums and mobile homes are excluded outright, so filter your home search from the start. If a condo was your plan for staying under the $270,000 cap, ask a lender about Georgia Dream, whose Atlanta-metro price cap is $625,000; its property-type rules are something the lender confirms. The forgiveness period (five or 10 years) depends on how much you receive, so ask which applies to your amount before you close.
How to apply
Check the posted 2026 workshop schedule and register for the 8-hour class, pick a lender from the county's 2026 HUD preferred list, and stay under the $270,000 price. Contact HUD@claytoncountyga.gov or (770) 473-5914 with questions. Our buying timeline lays out the order, or check eligibility.
Counties on this site where it applies: Clayton County.
Common questions about Clayton County Downpayment Assistance Program
How much is Clayton County down payment assistance?
Up to $7,500, or up to $10,000 for veterans and spouses, Clayton County employees, and Georgia law enforcement, first responders, healthcare and education workers.
Can I buy a condo with Clayton DPA?
No. Single-family homes only; no condos or mobile homes.
What is the price limit?
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.
