SC Housing provides current Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program participants the opportunity to participate in a home ownership program that will help them move from rental housing to owning their own home. If a family meets the criteria stated below, the rental voucher can be changed to a home ownership voucher

• The head of household must currently be an active HCV participant and must have been receiving the HCV/Section 8 voucher for a minimum of one year in the county where they are planning to buy a home. Vouchers that have been ported cannot be used to buy a home for a minimum of one year. 
• The potential borrower must comply with all HCV program requirements and must be in good standing with their Public Housing Agency (PHA).
• The head of household and/or spouse must have maintained full-time continuous employment for a minimum of one year.
• There are minimum total gross income requirements. This does not include the value of the voucher. Contact your local Public Housing Agency to learn more.
• Total annual household income cannot be derived from any form of welfare unless it is for an elderly and/or disabled person.
• None of the household members can have any ownership in any other real property.
• The purchaser of the home may not have held title to any property for a period of three years prior to participation.
• The head of household agrees to satisfactorily complete Homebuyer Education classes required by your PHA. 
• Upon successful completion of the instruction and education sections of the program, the PHA will refer the Borrowers to an approved SC Housing lender to be pre-qualified for an affordable home loan. The PHA administering the applicants Housing Choice Voucher will provide the lender with the estimated homebuyer subsidy to be included in the mortgage loan approval decision.
• The total tenant payment and housing assistance payments will be calculated according to provisions of the Housing Choice Voucher program.

Note: Eligibility to participate in the HCV Home Ownership Program does not guarantee the applicant will qualify to buy a home. After completing the PHA requirements, the head of household must obtain a mortgage prequalification letter from an approved SC Housing lender. The prequalification letter will include the price of the home that can be purchased and provide the applicant the opportunity to work with a real estate agent/broker to start the home buying process.

Contact your Housing Choice Voucher administrator at your local Public Housing Agency to learn more.

For full details please read our Housing Choice Voucher Program Flier.

Not all Public Housing Agencies participate in the HCV Homeownership Program, please contact your case worker to see if this is an option for you.