SC Housing’s highly anticipated 2026 Palmetto Heroes homebuyer program officially closed earlier this month after another record-breaking campaign.
The 2026 edition of the program began March 16 and closed April 13 after 272 home loans registered totaling more than $72 million in down payment assistance and low, fixed-rate mortgages. This marks the fastest pace at which the program has exhausted its allocated funding.
The popularity of the ’26 Palmetto Heroes campaign illustrates the continued demand for affordable homeownership opportunities among South Carolina’s foundational public servants.
The program — an annual offering for the state’s essential workers such as teachers, nurses, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, veterans and active-duty military, and National Guard members — featured $10,000 in forgivable down payment assistance and low, fixed-rate mortgage loans.
In 2025, the program was open for 33 business days and resulted in 298 home loans funded totaling more than $74million in down payment assistance and low, fixed-rate mortgages.
Though Palmetto Heroes remains SC Housing’s most popular homebuyer program, other programs offered by the agency provide down payment assistance and attractive, fixed rate loans.
As of April 2026, the SC Housing single-family homeownership programs have accounted for over 50,000 new homeowners and $5.3 billion in total investment.
For more information on SC Housing’s homebuyer programs https://schousing.sc.gov/homebuyers/programs-homebuyers or contact the agency at 803.896.2211 or email us at mortgage.production@schousing.com.
