Atlanta Metro Down Payment Assistance (Fulton & DeKalb)
Buying in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Decatur, or anywhere in Fulton or DeKalb County? Georgia Dream can cover your down payment, and metro Atlanta buyers may also have a second option through Atlanta Housing. Here is how both work.
How Georgia Dream works in Fulton and DeKalb
Fulton and DeKalb are the heart of metro Atlanta, and Georgia Dream is the statewide program most first-time buyers here use. The down payment assistance is a second mortgage set at zero percent interest, deferred with no monthly payment. The key thing to understand is that it is not forgiven, it is a loan, and the balance comes due when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. It pairs with a Georgia Dream first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional) on a home up to the $625,000 statewide cap.
Where the $625,000 cap fits in metro Atlanta
The statewide $625,000 price cap covers most of the metro. In Fulton, East Point, College Park, Union City, and south Fulton hold the deepest supply under the cap, while Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, and Roswell run higher. In DeKalb, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Clarkston, Tucker, and parts of Decatur and Chamblee work well. The intown Atlanta neighborhoods near the BeltLine have climbed and often push past the cap. Georgia Dream income limits are statewide, so the question in metro Atlanta is usually price, not income.
Atlanta Housing: a second door in the metro
Here is something buyers in the city of Atlanta often miss. Atlanta Housing runs its own down payment assistance, separate from Georgia Dream, for eligible buyers inside its service area. The two programs have different rules and cannot always be combined, but having both on the table gives metro buyers options that the rest of the state does not have. We compare them side by side on our Atlanta Housing vs. Georgia Dream page.
Georgia Dream income limit ($137,555 for 1–2 people / $158,188 for 3+) and the $625,000 maximum purchase price are statewide, effective 07.08.2026 (Georgia DCA). Limits change; confirm before relying on a figure. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
What is the down payment assistance for buying in Atlanta?
Georgia Dream offers a 0% deferred, non-forgivable second mortgage: $10,000 for all eligible buyers, or up to $12,500 under the PEN or CHOICE tiers. It is repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. Metro Atlanta buyers may also qualify for separate Atlanta Housing assistance.
What is the maximum home price for Georgia Dream in Atlanta?
The Georgia Dream maximum purchase price is $625,000 statewide, effective 07.08.2026. That covers most of Fulton and DeKalb County; intown neighborhoods near the BeltLine often run higher.
Is Georgia Dream down payment assistance a grant?
No. Georgia Dream DPA is a 0% deferred second mortgage, a loan, not a grant. There is no monthly payment, but the full balance is repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home.
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