Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

What is Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Statewide, North Carolina.

• Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) is a statewide secondary-market funded affordable mortgage and DPA program for low- and moderate-income (≤80% AMI) first-time homebuyers in North Carolina. CPLP provides up to 20% of the sales price (typically capped at $30,000) as a 0%, deferred-payment second mortgage. CPLP is administered by DreamKey Partners, a Charlotte-based CDFI, in partnership with NCHFA, and is funded primarily by federal HOME funds and other affordable-lending capital sources.
• The Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) provides up to 20% of the sales price (typically $30,000 max, varying by funding cycle and county) as a 0%-interest deferred second mortgage to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers across North Carolina. The CPLP second is deferred (no monthly payments, no interest accrual) and becomes due only at sale, refinance, transfer, or end of loan term (typically the same 30-year term as the first mortgage). When paired with the NC Home Advantage Mortgage and the $15K NC 1st Home Advantage DPA, the borrower can stack up to ~$45K in soft-second financing.
• Funding comes from Federal HOME Investment Partnership funds via NCHFA; CDFI capital aggregated by DreamKey Partners; participating financial institutions (Self-Help Credit Union historically a major funder).

How much assistance does it provide?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) provides assistance worth 20% of the purchase price, as set by the program.

• The program asks buyers to contribute $1,000 minimum borrower contribution from own funds typical; gift funds and seller credits do not satisfy the minimum.
• The program can be combined with other assistance, subject to the rules of each.
• Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — the administering agency determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off.

• Repayment is triggered by Full balance due at sale, refinance (without subordination), title transfer, or end of first-mortgage term (typically 30 years) and HOME affordability period (5/10/15 years) recapture rules apply if borrower no longer occupies as primary residence during that period.
• The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position.
• Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) is open to buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

What are the income limits?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

• Income limits set at 80% of HUD-published Area Median Income (AMI) for the property's county and household size, updated annually by HUD. 2025 NC county 4-person 80% AMI ranges from approximately $63,650 (rural counties such as Bertie, Robeson) to $105,300 (Raleigh-Cary MSA, Durham-Chapel Hill MSA, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia MSA). Lookup property-specific limit on the NCHFA / HUD limits table or via the participating lender.
• The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
• Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) caps the purchase price at $342,000.

• Eligible property types include Single-family detached, townhomes, condos (must meet agency project approval), 1-unit owner-occupied and new and existing.
• New construction is eligible.
• Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) names active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, surviving spouses, law enforcement officers, firefighters, healthcare workers, and buyers with disabilities among the groups it serves.

• Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) serves buyers purchasing in Statewide, North Carolina.

• The program targets specific areas: Available in all 100 NC counties; availability and amounts may vary by funding cycle and HOME participating jurisdiction. Some counties operate their own HOME PJ programs in parallel.

How do you apply?

Applications for Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

1. 1

   Take a homebuyer education course

   Required by the program, through HUD-approved homebuyer education required; DreamKey Partners (formerly CCDC), Prosperity Unlimited, OnTrack WNC, Twin Rivers Opportunities, and other NCHFA-approved housing counseling agencies.

2. 2

   Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

   Funds are reserved through Lender reserves CPLP funds via DreamKey Partners' lender portal alongside NCHFA reservation, and are subject to availability.

3. 3

   Work with a lender who handles the program

   Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.