Savannah & Chatham County Down Payment Assistance (Georgia Dream)
From the Historic District to Pooler, Savannah and Chatham County buyers can use Georgia Dream to cover the down payment. Here is how the program works in coastal Georgia.
How Georgia Dream works in Chatham County
Savannah has drawn steady in-migration, tourism, and a growing port economy, and home prices have climbed with it. That makes Georgia Dream more useful in Chatham County, because the cash needed for a down payment has grown. The assistance is a zero-percent deferred second mortgage, no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off. It is a loan, not a grant. It pairs with a Georgia Dream first mortgage on a home up to the $625,000 statewide cap.
Where the cap fits around Savannah
The $625,000 cap covers most of Chatham County. Inside Savannah, the midtown and southside neighborhoods, along with Garden City and Port Wentworth, hold affordable homes. Pooler and the west-Chatham growth corridor near the airport and the Hyundai plant draw a lot of first-time buyers to newer construction under the cap. The Landings on Skidaway and the historic downtown blocks run higher and can push past $625,000. Georgia Dream income limits are statewide, so price is the main filter here.
Buying near the port and the growth corridor
West Chatham has boomed around logistics, the Georgia Ports Authority, and the new Hyundai Metaplant nearby in Bryan County. If you have started a job in that corridor, Georgia Dream can usually count your income once it is documented, so you may not have to wait a full year to buy. And if you work in health care at Memorial or St. Joseph’s, or teach in the county schools, the PEN tier may raise your assistance to $12,500. We map your options before you shop.
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
How does Georgia Dream work in Savannah?
Georgia Dream offers a 0% deferred, non-forgivable second mortgage, $10,000 Standard or up to $12,500 under PEN or CHOICE, repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off. It pairs with a Georgia Dream first mortgage on a Chatham County home up to the $625,000 statewide cap.
What is the maximum home price for Georgia Dream in Chatham County?
The maximum purchase price is $625,000 statewide, effective 07.08.2026. That covers most of Savannah, Pooler, and west Chatham; the Landings and historic downtown often run higher.
Can port and Hyundai-corridor workers use Georgia Dream in Savannah?
Yes, if they meet the statewide income and credit requirements. A recently started job can usually count once documented. Health-care workers and teachers may also qualify for the PEN tier's higher $12,500 assistance.
Ready to see your Georgia Dream options?
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Georgia path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.