How much can a Savannah buyer get from the city?
Savannah runs one of the larger city programs in Georgia. DreamMaker Home Purchase Assistance, run by the city's Housing & Neighborhood Services department, provides up to $50,000 on housing the city helped develop and up to $30,000 on any other qualifying home. The money can cover the down payment, closing costs or a financing gap. It is a 2% interest, 30-year deferred-payment loan, so it is repaid rather than forgiven, but there is no monthly payment on it. Applications are taken year-round while funds remain, so timing matters less than having your paperwork ready.
DreamMaker is limited to qualified first-time buyers purchasing inside Savannah city limits, so homes in Pooler, Garden City or Tybee Island do not count. Household income limits apply, though the city's page does not list the amounts. Expect both a private inspection and a city inspection, and a home built before 1978 cannot have defective paint.
If you work for the city below department-head level, the City of Savannah Employee Home Purchase Assistance program adds up to $15,000 as a 0% loan forgiven after five years, as long as you are still a city employee living in the home. That includes Savannah Police and Savannah Fire staff, and it can be combined with DreamMaker. The forgiven amount is reported as W-2 income. A Savannah-Chatham County Public School System teacher would not be a city employee, but could look at Georgia Dream PEN, which the Chatham County guide covers along with the county's $475,000 price limit.
Run by the city of Savannah
City of Savannah
- For
- Qualified first-time buyers purchasing inside Savannah city limits
- Amount
- Up to $50,000 (housing developed in partnership with the City) or up to $30,000 (all other housing) for down payment, closing costs and/or gap financing
- Kind
- Deferred loan, due when you sell or refinance
- Income cap
- Household income restrictions apply (limits not shown on page)
- First-time buyers only?
- Yes
- Also required
- 2% interest, 30-year deferred-payment loan; private and City inspections required; pre-1978 homes cannot have defective paint; property must be in Savannah city limits
Applications ongoing year-round while funds remain. Contact downpayment@savannahga.gov, (912) 651-6926.
Last checked November 2026 · our sources
Read our full write-upCheck whether I fitCity of Savannah
- For
- City of Savannah employees below department-head level, in good standing
- Amount
- Up to $15,000
- Kind
- Forgivable loan
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
Read our full write-upCheck whether I fitHelp from the state
On top of the city options, Savannah buyers can look at 2 statewide programs, Georgia Dream PEN among them. Browse all Georgia programs or let the program matcher sort them.
The county guide for this city: Chatham County.
Homebuyer classes near Chatham
Nearly every assistance program asks you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. It is usually friendlier than people expect. Here are HUD-approved agencies near Chatham County that teach the class or meet with buyers one on one:
| Agency | City | How far | What they offer | Languages | How you meet |
|---|
| Jcvision and Associates, Inc | Hinesville | 31 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone |
From HUD's list of housing counseling agencies. Programs differ on which classes they accept.
Which class will count for you? Ask the lender. Someone who works with Georgia programs knows which class your program takes, and can begin your pre-approval during the same conversation.
Find me a lender
Questions from Savannah buyers
Is DreamMaker a grant?
No. It is a 2% interest, 30-year deferred-payment loan, so there are no monthly payments but it is repaid later.
Can I use DreamMaker in Pooler or Garden City?
No. The property must be inside Savannah city limits.
Can Savannah police officers stack the employee program with DreamMaker?
Yes. Savannah Police are city employees, and the city says the employee program can be combined with DreamMaker.
