Peach advantage loan program
If you’re hoping to buy a home in Georgia but the down payment feels out of reach, there’s a new option you should know about. The Georgia Dream Peach Advantage Loan Program is a fresh take on down payment assistance—designed to help more people become homeowners without having to come up with a huge amount of cash upfront.
This program offers up to 5% in down payment and closing cost assistance and is open to both first-time and repeat buyers. With higher income limits and higher home price limits than the traditional Georgia Dream program and a straightforward approval process, Peach Advantage could be the missing piece in your homeownership plan.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works and who can qualify.
The Peach Advantage Home Loan Program is part of Georgia’s broader Georgia Dream initiative, but with some major upgrades. Most notably, it provides a second mortgage loan (with no monthly payment) to cover your down payment and closing costs—up to 5% of your loan amount. That second loan is deferred for 30 years at 0% interest, meaning you won’t have to pay it back until you sell or refinance your home.
It’s also not just for first-time buyers—any eligible borrower who does not currently own a home can use it, which makes it more accessible than many other programs.
You apply by completing our easy online application and our experienced team will help you get pre-approved for the primary conventional loan and the secondary assistance loan at the same time. One loan application, one mortgage lender, one approval… Easy!
- Down Payment & Closing Cost Help Up to 5%
Assistance is available in tiers (2% to 5%), depending on your needs. - No Monthly Payments on the Assistance
The DPA is deferred at 0% interest, so you don’t have to pay it back until you refinance or sell the home. - Conventional Loan Program
This means less red tape and more flexibility compared to government-backed loans. The approval process is just like any other conventional loan. In fact, our Guaranteed pre-approval is available for this program! - Higher Income Limits
Peach Advantage allows for household income up to 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI), so more families can qualify. In most metro Atlanta counties, the 2025 limit is $170,250 gross annual income! - Higher Home Price Limits
Peach Advantage provides eligible borrowers with up to 5% assistance on homes up to $650,000 in the Atlanta MSA, $575,000 in the Athens MSA, and $500,000 in all other GA counties.
| Requirement | Details |
| Loan Type | Conventional only |
| Assistance Structure | 30-year deferred second mortgage (repayable later) |
| FICO Score Minimum | 640+ |
| Mortgage Insurance | Required over 80% LTV. Reduced premiums with income under 80% of the area median income. |
| Occupancy | Owner-occupied |
| Assistance Available | 2% – 5% for down payment and/or closing costs. Or 0% if you only want to take advantage of the low fixed interest rate on the primary loan. |
| Buyer Type | Both first-time and repeat buyers are eligible. Ownership interest in any other home is not allowed. |
With rising home prices, even well-qualified buyers are finding it harder to save enough for the down payment on a suitable home. Peach Advantage gives eligible Georgians a leg up by easing one of the biggest financial barriers to homeownership. It’s especially helpful if you have solid income and credit, but not a lot of cash saved.
Ready to Explore your options?
If this sounds like something that might work for you, let’s talk. This program isn’t the right fit for everyone, but it could be exactly what you need to make homeownership possible this year.
Click on any of the scheduling links on our website and book a pre-approval consultation today. We’ll discuss your eligibility, explain our Guaranteed pre-approval process, and help you take the next steps with confidence.