Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program (SHLP)
First mortgage · Income limits
Down payment assistance · Rutherford County
Buying a home in Forest City, NC
1 county program and 6 statewide.Forest City has no program of its own, 1 across Rutherford County, and 6 statewide. Here is what each one offers, what the local market looks like, and who near you can walk you through it.
Find my programs Free · No credit pull · 90 seconds
What’s local to Forest City
No program of Forest City’s own yet
No program run for Forest City alone is listed. A home in Forest City can use Rutherford County’s programs below, plus the North Carolina statewide and federal ones.
The closest city that runs its own program is Gastonia, about 39 miles away. City programs usually require the home to be inside that city’s limits.
Anywhere in RutherfordAnywhere in Rutherford County
1 county program1 county program a Forest City homebuyer can use
The Forest City marketThe Forest City housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Forest City
- 70.6% single-familysingle-family
- 2.4% townhousetownhouse
- 11.8% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 10.7% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 4.6% mobile & othermobile home & other
About condos. Forest City’s one local program does not list condos as eligible. Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program (SHLP) lists single_family.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Forest City’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
78.5%
of Forest City homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
$77,200
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Rutherford County, 4-person household (2026)
$35,524
Forest City median household incomeMedian household income in Forest City (Census, 2024)
13 of the 69 programs here set their income limit as a share of Rutherford County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Rutherford County
Free help nearbyFree help near Forest City
Free help from a HUD-approved housing counselorFree help from a HUD-approved housing counselor
Forest City’s program asks for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program (SHLP) asks for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
Find my counselor
Free account → 90-second match → your counselors · Sign in
Across North Carolina and nationwide
68 statewide & federal programs6 statewide programs, plus federal options
Forest City questions
Does Forest City have its own down payment program?
No program run for Forest City alone is listed. A home in Forest City can use the 1 program that cover Rutherford County and the 6 statewide programs. Each program’s own site has the current terms.
Can I use assistance on a condo in Forest City?
Forest City’s one local program does not list condos as eligible. Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program (SHLP) lists single_family. Each program’s page lists the kinds of homes it accepts, and the agency confirms it for the home you choose.
What is the income limit in Rutherford County?
Each program sets its own. 13 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Rutherford County, adjusted for household size. HUD publishes the median each year; the 2026 figure is shown above and on the published limits page.
Where can I take a homebuyer class near Forest City?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
ZIP codes
28043
Nearby in Rutherford
Sources
Sources: agency sites (July–September 2026), Census ACS 2024 5-year, HUD FY2026, HUD counseling list. Hey Prescott is not a lender.Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (July–September 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.