County seatLawrenceville
People living here1,018,099
Help availableGeorgia Dream PEN
What to know about Gwinnett
Gwinnett has more than a million residents spread across Peachtree Corners, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Snellville and Suwanee. Lawrenceville is the county seat.
Gwinnett County Public Schools is one of the biggest employers in the state, and Buford City Schools serves the Buford area. Both are accredited school boards, so their teachers, aides, food service and transportation staff all qualify under the educator rule.
Gwinnett County Police Department, Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office and Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services round out the major protector employers. As part of the metro Atlanta tier, buyers here can earn up to $158,188 (3+ people) and buy up to $625,000.
The Gwinnett limits
Household of 1 or 2$137,555
Household of 3 or more$158,188
Highest home price$625,000
Gwinnett is in the 24-county metro tier, so household income can reach $137,555 (1-2 people) or $158,188 (3+) with a $625,000 price limit. Compare with every county's limits, or try a budget before you shop.
More help that is local to Gwinnett
Some of these can sit alongside the state program, and some cannot. Your lender sorts out which pairings are allowed before anything is signed.
Gwinnett County
- For
- First-time buyers (or no home owned in 3+ years)
- Amount
- Up to $10,000 for down payment, closing costs, prepaids and fees
- Kind
- Forgivable loan
- Income cap
- 80% AMI (2026 adjusted HOME limits, effective May 1, 2026): $66,000 (1) / $94,250 (4) / $124,450 (8)
- Price cap
- $371,000 existing / $425,000 new construction (effective Dec 1, 2025)
- First-time buyers only?
- Yes
- Also required
- 0% 5-year deferred loan, 20% forgiven annually; min one credit score 580; DTI max 43%/55%; household assets max $25,000; 8-hour HUD-approved pre-purchase class; buyer contributes lesser of 1% or $1,000; single-family/townhome/condo in Gwinnett; property inspection; no 203k/repair loans; bankruptcy discharged 2+ years; apply via ZIP Portal or Homestretch@GwinnettCounty.com
Combination with Georgia Dream not stated on county pages.
Last checked November 2026 · our sources
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Homebuyer classes near Gwinnett
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 Gwinnett County that teach the class or meet with buyers one on one:
| Agency | City | How far | What they offer | Languages | How you meet |
|---|
| Refugee Family Assistance Program | Stone Mountain | 16 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | Arabic, English, Vietnamese | Face to Face |
| Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc | Atlanta | 16 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
| The Homeowners Employment Corporation | Conyers | 20 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Resources for Residents and Communities of Georgia, Inc. | Atlanta | 24 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
| Operation Hope, Inc | Atlanta | 25 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
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
Local employers whose staff may qualify
A few of the larger ones:
- Gwinnett County Public Schools
- Buford City Schools
- Gwinnett County Police Department
- Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office
- Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services
Buford City Schools staff qualify just like Gwinnett County Public Schools staff, since both are accredited school boards. See the full list of jobs.
Questions from Gwinnett buyers
Do Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services medics qualify?
Yes. EMS and patient care staff of a local fire department are on the PEN list.
Do I have to buy in Gwinnett if I work there?
No. PEN is statewide. Use the limits for the county where you buy.
How much would PEN be on a $400,000 Suwanee home?
6% of $400,000 is $24,000, so the $12,500 cap applies.
Nearby counties: Fulton Cobb DeKalb Chatham Cherokee Clayton Forsyth Henry See them all
