The DeKalb Difference Blog

A New Path to Homeownership Is Coming to DeKalb County

Coming Soon: DeKalb HomeStart – A New Down Payment Assistance Program for DeKalb County Residents

Buying a home is one of the most meaningful steps a family can take toward building long-term financial security. We know that. We also know that for a lot of people right now, the biggest obstacle isn’t the desire to own a home; it’s coming up with enough cash to get to the closing table.

That’s exactly why DeKalb County, in partnership with Decide DeKalb Development Authority, is launching the DeKalb HomeStart Program, a new down payment assistance initiative designed to help first-time homebuyers purchase a home right here in DeKalb County.

What Is the DeKalb HomeStart Program?

HomeStart provides financial assistance in the form of a forgivable loan that covers a portion of your down payment and closing costs. It is structured as a 0% interest loan with no monthly payments, functioning essentially as a silent second mortgage. If you live in the home as your primary residence for 10 full years, the loan is completely forgiven. If you sell or move before the 10-year mark, you would repay the HomeStart down payment assistance from the proceeds of that sale.

The program is designed to work alongside other down payment assistance programs. If you qualify for Georgia Dream, a City of Atlanta program, or another source of assistance, you can layer that with HomeStart to reduce your out-of-pocket costs even further.

Who Is Eligible?

HomeStart is open to first-time homebuyers, which the program defines as someone who has not owned a home in the past six months and does not currently own any other residential property. If you own a home right now, you would need to sell it before purchasing your new home through this program.

Income limits apply, based on HUD’s Area Median Income (AMI) for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area:

  • Households earning up to 100% AMI can qualify for up to $20,000 in assistance.
  • Households earning between 101% and 120% AMI can qualify for up to $15,000.

DeKalb County employees receive an additional $5,000 incentive on top of those amounts, and a separate eligibility tier extends up to 140% AMI specifically for county employees.

Note: As of May 1st, 2026, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area’s 100% AMI for a household of four (4) is $117,800, and 120% AMI is $141,360, per the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). 

What Kinds of Homes Qualify?

HomeStart is available for properties located anywhere within DeKalb County limits, including homes located within cities such as Brookhaven or Tucker that fall within DeKalb County. Eligible property types include single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums, and the home can be new construction or an existing property. The maximum purchase price is $550,000, which is consistent with the Georgia Dream Mortgage program.

The program is also designed with affordability in mind beyond the purchase itself. The goal is to help buyers keep their total housing costs, such as mortgage, insurance, property taxes, and any HOA fees, at or below 30% of their household income, so that homeownership remains sustainable over the long term.

How Do You Apply?

The process starts before you find a specific home to purchase. Here are the basic steps:

  • Get pre-approved by a lender so you understand your purchasing power.
  • Complete a homebuyer education course (most can be done online) and hold onto your certificate.
  • Find your home within DeKalb County. 
  • Apply online through Decide DeKalb once you have a lender and a property identified.
  • Close on your new home after your application is reviewed and approved.

*There are no restrictions on which lender or real estate agent or broker homebuyers can use.

Why This Program Matters

Homeownership has long been one of the primary ways families in this country build wealth that can be passed on to the next generation, used to fund education, launch a small business, or weather unexpected hardship. When rising home prices and the high cost of living make it impossible to save for a down payment, that opportunity slips further out of reach with every passing year.

We created HomeStart because we believe DeKalb County residents deserve a real shot at ownership. We also believe our county is stronger when more residents have a stake in it. Neighborhoods with high rates of homeownership tend to have lower crime, stronger schools, and more economic activity. This program is an investment in individual families and in the community as a whole.

The initial fund is $10 million, with an estimated average assistance amount of around $18,000 per household. We expect to serve more than 500 homebuyers over the coming years, generating millions of dollars in leveraged private mortgage financing coming into the county.

Stay Connected and Get Ready

Within the next 90 days, we expect to announce homebuyer education and financial literacy opportunities here in DeKalb County. 

HomeStart is almost here. We want you to be ready when it is.

To stay up to date, follow DeKalb County and Decide DeKalb on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. If you have questions, reach out to us directly at [email protected].

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