SC Housing celebrates June as Homeownership Month

COLUMBIA, S.C. —  June is recognized nationally as Homeownership Month, a time to celebrate the importance of homeownership and the role it plays in strengthening families, communities, and the economy.

SC Housing is proud to highlight the opportunities and benefits that come with owning a home, as well as the agency’s continued commitment to helping South Carolinians achieve the dream of safe, stable, and affordable homeownership. Through a variety of programs and resources, SC Housing works to expand access to homeownership, especially for first-time buyers and underserved communities.

Owning a home remains a cornerstone of the American Dream. It offers stability, builds wealth, and creates a sense of pride and belonging. SC Housing joins communities across the state and nation in recognizing the value of homeownership and in supporting efforts to make it accessible for all.

The importance of first-time homebuyer assistance programs, such as those offered by SC Housing, are increasingly important. 

Initiatives like the Palmetto Heroes program are a great example of this. 

The Palmetto Heroes program, which was aimed at assisting teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, nurses, veterans, and other front-line public servants, helped them achieve the dream of homeownership.

The program expended its allocated funding within just four weeks, providing $72 million in funding – through competitive mortgage rates and down payment assistance – to 272 new homeowners.

Other programs across SC Housing’s portfolio have seen similar popularity. 

Over the past 12 months – from May 2025 to April 2026 – SC Housing’s first-time homebuyer programs have assisted in the purchase of 2,678 homes through $673,130,894 in first-time homebuyer assistance.

The dynamic Made It Home! Program has recently begun the exciting process of constructing and selling the program’s 130 homes, created by five different homebuilders across the state.

SC Housing has partnered with five builders to deliver more than 130 new three‑bedroom, two‑bath homes of at least 1,200 square feet, each priced at or below $200,000. The homes will be built across the state, including 45 by McGuinn Homes in the Columbia area; 40 by D.R. Horton in Darlington and Orangeburg; 15 by the Housing Development Corporation of Rock Hill; 15 by Oak and Ave Property Group in Spartanburg; and 15 by Gainey Construction Co. in Sumter.

Eligible buyers may receive up to $25,000 in forgivable down‑payment and closing‑cost assistance through SC Housing’s approved lending partners. The assistance is provided as a zero‑interest second mortgage and is fully forgiven after 10 years of owner occupancy.

For potential buyers, homebuilder contact information can be found on SC Housing’s website at schousing.sc.gov/homebuyers/made-it-home.

For more information on SC Housing's homebuyer programs, visit https://schousing.sc.gov/homebuyers or contact the agency at 803.896.2211 or email us at mortgage.production@schousing.com.

Media Contact: Matthew McColl
Marketing and Public Information Director
matthew.mccoll@schousing.com
803-896-9520

SC Housing is a self-sustaining housing finance agency committed to ensuring that South Carolinians have the opportunity to live in safe, decent and affordable housing. Agency operations are supported by a funding base that includes fees and other revenue earned through the administration of agency programs. For more information, visit SCHousing.sc.gov.