Georgia Dream eligibility, income limits, and price limits.
Georgia Dream has a clean set of statewide rules: one credit floor, one income cap by household size, one purchase-price cap, and a first-time-buyer requirement with real exceptions. Here's the whole picture with the current numbers.
Georgia Dream requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Georgia Dream standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum middle credit score | 640 (applicant & co-applicant) |
| Maximum debt-to-income | Tiered by score, generally up to ~45% |
| Household income limit | $137,555 (1-2 persons) / $158,188 (3+), eff. 07.08.2026 |
| Maximum purchase price | $625,000, eff. 07.08.2026 |
| First-time buyer | Required (3-yr lookback), waived in targeted counties |
| Eligible loan types | FHA, VA, USDA/RD, Conventional |
| Homebuyer education | Required |
| DPA tiers | Standard up to $10,000 · PEN/CHOICE up to $12,500 |
Income and price limits are set by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and change roughly yearly. Figures effective July 8, 2026; verify the current limits with us or at dca.georgia.gov before relying on a number.
The first-time buyer rule, plainly
Georgia Dream asks that you haven't held an ownership interest in a primary residence in the last three years. It's a three-year lookback, not a "never owned" test, so plenty of past owners qualify again. The requirement is fully waived if you buy in one of Georgia's designated targeted counties, and there are further exceptions for certain non-applicant situations. If you owned before, don't assume you're out, check the county first.
Georgia metros we serve
We originate Georgia Dream statewide. The largest buyer markets are metro Atlanta (Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, Henry), Savannah (Chatham), Augusta (Richmond), Columbus (Muscogee), and Macon (Bibb). Targeted-county status and the local housing market change the picture from one county to the next, which is what we work out on the call.
Georgia Dream income limits by area (2026)
Georgia Dream sets its income cap by area and household size, so the metro Atlanta limit runs well above the rest of the state. The table below is the Georgia Dream Standard program (the $10,000 first-time-buyer down payment assistance), effective July 8, 2026, from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Household income counts everyone who will live in the home, not just borrowers.
| Area (Georgia Dream Standard) | 1-2 persons | 3+ persons | Purchase price limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Atlanta (Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Cherokee, Clayton, Henry, and 16 more counties) | $137,555 | $158,188 | $625,000 |
| Athens MSA (Clarke, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Morgan) | $118,152 | $135,875 | $525,000 |
| All other Georgia counties | $101,700 | $116,955 | $475,000 |
Source: Georgia DCA, Maximum Income and Sales Prices by Program Type and MSA/County, effective July 8, 2026. The newer Georgia Peach Plus tier allows higher income ($206,333 / $237,282 for 1-2 / 3+ people in metro Atlanta) with purchase prices up to $725,000, and Georgia Peach Advantage allows up to 150% of area median income. We confirm your county's current figure before you shop.
Georgia Dream questions
What are the income and price limits for Georgia Dream?
Georgia Dream sets limits by area and household size, effective July 8, 2026. On the Georgia Dream Standard program, metro Atlanta caps income at $137,555 for 1-2 people and $158,188 for 3 or more, with purchase price up to $625,000. The Athens MSA is $118,152 / $135,875 ($525,000), and all other Georgia counties are $101,700 / $116,955 ($475,000). The newer Georgia Peach Plus and Peach Advantage tiers allow higher income. DCA updates these limits about once a year.
What credit score does Georgia Dream require?
A minimum middle credit score of 640 for the applicant and co-applicant. Debt-to-income limits are tiered by score, generally up to about 45%, with additional room at higher scores under FHA and the automated underwriting findings.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer in Georgia?
Generally yes, no ownership interest in a primary residence in the last three years. The rule is waived if you buy in a designated targeted county, and there are exceptions for certain non-applicant and qualifying-purchase situations, so some repeat buyers qualify.
Not sure if you qualify?
Tell us your income ballpark, credit range, and county, and we'll confirm your Georgia Dream eligibility in a 20-minute call.