GEORGIA DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

You Might Not Need a Big Down Payment to Buy a Home

Many Georgia buyers qualify for $10,000 to $30,000 in assistance — they just don’t know it yet.

Most lenders don’t walk through these programs. So buyers assume they need more cash than they actually do. In one conversation, you’ll see what you may qualify for and how it actually works.

Send Us a Message See What You Qualify For

No pressure. Just answers.

Georgia Dream Expert | 6,000+ Clients Served | A+ BBB Rating

01

Down Payment Assistance

Assistance programs — some are grants you never repay, and some, like Georgia Dream, are repaid when you sell or refinance.

02

Low Down Options

Programs starting at 3% or 3.5% down.

03

State & Local Assistance

Georgia Dream and city initiatives.

04

More Buying Power

Lower your monthly payments instantly.

Years Experience
Clients Served
Top 1%

Mortgage Team

A+ BBB

Rating Since 2007

CHALLENGES

This Is Where Most Buyers Get Stuck

If any of these sound familiar, you’re not the only one.

You’ve been saving, but the down payment still feels out of reach

You’re not sure if you make too much or too little to qualify

You’ve heard about assistance but assumed it wasn’t for you

You’re buying in Atlanta and don’t know what programs apply

You’re a teacher, first responder, or healthcare worker and didn’t realize there are specialized programs for you

THE BARRIER

Most Buyers Never See What They Actually Qualify For

Most lenders mention down payment assistance once, if at all, then move on.

So buyers make decisions based on incomplete information. That’s how people close without $10,000 to $30,000 they could have used.

The challenge isn’t that programs don’t exist. It’s that they’re layered, location-specific, and have different rules around income, purchase price, and eligibility.

We sort through all of it for you before you make a decision.

We help buyers uncover assistance they didn’t know they had access to.

ROADMAP TO CLARITY

See What You May Qualify For, Clearly

In one quick 15-minute conversation, here’s what you will walk away with:

1

State Programs (Georgia Dream)

Up to $10,000 to $12,500 in assistance. 0% interest, no monthly payment (repaid when selling/refinancing).

2

Atlanta Programs (If Applicable)

Up to $10,000 to $30,000 depending on location and eligibility constraints.

3

Occupation-Based Programs

Additional support (PEN) for teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and military.

4

Your Real Numbers

Exactly what to do next, with no guesswork.

5

Your Next Step

Exactly what to do next, with no guesswork.

GEORGIA EXCLUSIVE

The Programs, In Plain English

Georgia Dream Standard

You’re a first-time buyer who needs help with cash to close? Georgia Dream Standard: provides up to $10,000 in 0%-interest assistance (no monthly payment) within program purchase-price and income limits.

Georgia Dream PEN

You’re military, a first responder, teacher, or healthcare worker? Georgia Dream PEN (Protectors, Educators, Nurses): offers up to $12,500 with the same 0%-payment assistance structure for eligible professionals.

Georgia Dream Peach Plus

You’re not a first-time buyer or you need higher income/price limits? Georgia Dream Peach Plus: provides up to $10,000 in assistance without a first-time buyer requirement and with a higher max purchase price.

Program details verified July 2026.

SIDE-BY-SIDE MATCHUP

Same Buyer. Very Different Outcome.

How Southern Mortgage Authority compares directly against consumer banking giants.

Core Metric / Characteristic
Typical Consumer Lender
With Southern Mortgage Authority

DPA Awareness

✕  Mentions assistance briefly or not at all

✓  All eligible programs reviewed upfront

Calculations

✕  One standard loan option, no comparison

✓  Clear numbers before you make a decision

Program Discovery

✕  You find out too late what you missed

✓  Multiple options shown side by side

Guidance

✕  Left to navigate complex government rules alone

✓ Expert guidance through every requirement and step

VERIFIED FEEDBACK

Buyers Who Found Money They Didn’t Know They Had

6,000+ Clients Served | 25 Years Licensed | A+ BBB Rating Since 2007

““FHA isn’t the easiest loan option but boy did this team make the process smooth and easy! I found them through Invest Atlanta, which is a program that helps with down payment assistance. $10k was granted for my closing through this program.”

“

Chrisette

Atlanta first-time buyer (Google review)

First-Time Buyer

“Great communication and effort from Susan and her team to make everything go smoothly. From the first phone call until closing day, everything was so quick and easy.”

“

Callie

Homebuyer (Google review)

First-Time Buyer

“Easy to work with and very helpful in the purchase of our first home!”

“

Zack

First-time buyer (Google review)

First-Time Buyer

LEARNING BASE

Common Down-payment Assistance Questions

Clear, straightforward answers about our loan processing policies.

For standard Georgia Dream, yes
– you cannot have owned a home in the last three years. But Peach Plus has no first-time buyer requirement, and some Invest Atlanta programs don’t either. We’ll tell you which options are open to you.

Generally, no.
Georgia Dream cannot be combined with other down payment assistance programs. We’ll help you compare which program gives you the better overall outcome.

Georgia Dream assistance is repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home.
Invest Atlanta HomeNOW is completely forgiven after 5 years if you remain in the home. Beltline HomeNOW and VCRI are repaid at sale or refinance. We’ll explain exactly what applies to you.

It varies by program and loan type.
Georgia Dream generally requires a 640 minimum credit score. We’ll run your file and tell you where you stand.

DPA loans can take a few extra days compared to a standard loan, but we account for that in our timeline. It won’t put your closing at risk when we manage it from the start.

Before You Keep Saving, See What You Already Qualify For

You may be closer than you think. Most buyers are. One quick conversation, and you’ll know exactly what’s available to you.

“We’re based in Marietta and work with buyers across metro Atlanta — and in the 13 states where we’re licensed.”

SEND US A MESSAGE
GET A SECOND OPINION

NO OBLIGATION. JUST DIRECT LOCAL ANSWERS.