Fulton County, GA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Fulton County buyers can apply to 3 local down payment programs, with help up to $30,000 through Beltline Mortgage Assistance Program, on top of Georgia's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Fulton County
These are run by City of Atlanta, City of Atlanta (Beltline Tax Allocation District subareas 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10), Georgia (statewide), separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL HomeNOW City of Atlanta (Invest Atlanta) · source | 0% deferred second mortgage, forgiven over a 10-year affordability period | Up to $20,000 | Household income must not exceed $141,360 for a 4-person household | No | Inside the incorporated city limits of Atlanta (spans parts of Fulton and DeKalb counties); |
| Beltline Mortgage Assistance Program City of Atlanta (Beltline Tax Allocation District subareas 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10) (Invest Atlanta / Atlanta BeltLine) · source | 0% soft second mortgage, 15-year affordability period | Up to $30,000 for civil servants and legacy residents; up to $20,000 for other qualified buyers | Up to 120% AMI ($141,360 for a 4-person household) or up to 140% AMI ($164,920 for a 4-person household) depending on buyer category | No | Only within specified Atlanta BeltLine Tax Allocation District subareas (1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10); |
| Georgia Dream Standard / Peach Select Down Payment Assistance Georgia (statewide) (Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) - Georgia Dream Homeownership Program) · source | 0% interest, deferred second mortgage (due on sale, refinance, or payoff) | Standard: 5% of purchase price up to $10,000; Peach Select (Protectors, Educators & Nurses/PEN): 6% of purchase price up to $12,500 | Effective July 8, 2026 for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell HUD Metro FMR Area (includes Fulton County): $137,555 for 1-2 person households; | Yes | Statewide; |
- ATL HomeNOW. Minimum credit score: 620 This is Invest Atlanta's current flagship downpayment program, superseding the older 'HOME Atlanta 4.0' branding, so the program name has changed over time.
- Beltline Mortgage Assistance Program. Minimum credit score: 620 Launched/expanded in partnership with Atlanta BeltLine (roughdraftatlanta.com reported a July 2026 relaunch). Funds usable for down payment, closing costs, or rate reduction. Maximum loan amount $400,000; no maximum purchase price (max CLTV 105%).
- Georgia Dream Standard / Peach Select Down Payment Assistance. A Georgia Dream Peach Plus tier also exists for buyers who need more assistance, with a statewide maximum purchase price of up to $725,000 per the Georgia Department of Community Affairs' July 2026 table.
Income limits in Fulton County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $117,800 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $94,250 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Georgia statewide programs you can also use in Fulton County
Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) - Georgia Dream Homeownership Program (homebuyer programs page) runs 6 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Georgia, with down payment help up to 5% of the loan (about $18,685 on a median-priced home) through Peach Advantage. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Dream - Standard Down Payment Assistance source | Second mortgage | 5% of the purchase price or $10,000, whichever is less | Yes | n/a | $101,700 (1-2 persons) to $158,188 (3+ persons) depending on metro area; |
| Georgia Dream - Protectors, Educators & Nurses (PEN) Choice source | Second mortgage | 6% of the purchase price or $12,500, whichever is less | Yes | n/a | $101,700 (1-2 persons) to $158,188 (3+ persons) depending on metro area |
| Georgia Dream - Choice source | Second mortgage | 6% of the purchase price or $12,500, whichever is less | Yes | n/a | $101,700 (1-2 persons) to $158,188 (3+ persons) depending on metro area |
| Peach Plus source | Second mortgage | See program page | No | n/a | Up to $206,333 (1-2 persons) / $237,282 (3+ persons) |
| Peach Advantage source | Second mortgage | 2-5% of the first loan amount | No | n/a | Up to 150% of Area Median Income (AMI) per Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac AMI lookup tools |
| Peach Select VA source | First mortgage | See program page | No | n/a | $137,555 (1-2 persons) / $158,188 (3+ persons) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell HUD Metro; lower elsewhere |
Fulton County closing costs that differ from the rest of Georgia
Transfer tax: Georgia's real estate transfer tax (intangible/transfer tax on deeds) is $1.00 for the first $1,000 (or fraction) of the sale price, plus $0.10 for each additional $100 (or fraction) above that - i.e., roughly $1 per $1,000 total, uniform statewide including Fulton County. The tax must be paid before the deed can be recorded at the Clerk of Superior Court (Fulton County Superior Court for this county), which then certifies payment on the instrument via a PT-61 form (filed through the state's GSCCCA e-filing system). Source
Owner's title policy: seller (customary in Fulton County/Georgia)
The Georgia Department of Revenue confirms the $1 per $1,000 plus $0.10 per $100 transfer tax formula, applied uniformly statewide. Recording fee amounts charged by the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk (not the Tax Commissioner) are not listed here.
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Fulton County, GA?
ATL HomeNOW (City of Atlanta, up to $20,000); Beltline Mortgage Assistance Program (City of Atlanta (Beltline Tax Allocation District subareas 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10), up to $30,000); Georgia Dream Standard / Peach Select Down Payment Assistance (Georgia (statewide), up to $12,500). Georgia statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Fulton County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $94,250 for a four-person household in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Fulton County?
Georgia's real estate transfer tax (intangible/transfer tax on deeds) is $1.00 for the first $1,000 (or fraction) of the sale price, plus $0.10 for each additional $100 (or fraction) above that - i.e., roughly $1 per $1,000 total, uniform statewide including Fulton County. The tax must be paid before the deed can be recorded at the Clerk of Superior Court (Fulton County Superior Court for this county), which then certifies payment on the instrument via a PT-61 form (filed through the state's GSCCCA e-filing system).
Official sources
- City of Atlanta: ATL HomeNOW
- Georgia (statewide): Georgia Dream Standard / Peach Select Down Payment Assistance
- HUD income limits
- Fulton County transfer tax
- Fulton County recording fees
- HUD USER - FY2025 HOME Program Income Limits, Georgia (PDF)
Fulton County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
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