SOBU future homebuyers
Your path
from class to keys.
Prepare. Learn. Qualify. Search the eligible SOBU pocket. Purchase with confidence.
Fulton County HOP · August 2026
Up to $25,000
toward your move.
Eligible first-time buyers may receive need-based assistance for down payment, closing costs and/or an interest-rate buydown when purchasing a primary residence in Fulton County outside the City of Atlanta.
The easy homebuyer flow
Your SOBU buying journey.
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SOBUELIGIBLE-AREA LENS• South Fulton• Fairburn• Union City• East Point• College Park• Palmetto
Where you may purchase
Stay inside the eligible pocket.
The controlling program boundary is Fulton County outside the City of Atlanta. The named communities are useful search areas, but municipal limits and postal addresses can overlap. Always ask the lender or HOP staff to verify a specific address before signing a contract.
Prepare your file
Financial documents checklist.
HOP or the first-mortgage lender may request additional items based on the household and loan file.
Government-issued identification and residency documentationThree most recent years of federal tax-return transcriptsTwo consecutive months of paystubsEmployment verification and current employer detailsRecent bank and asset statementsProfit-and-loss statement if self-employedSocial Security, SSI, SSDI or other income award lettersCurrent statements for credit cards, loans and other debtsStudent transcript or no-income affidavit when applicableFunds showing at least the required $500 buyer contribution
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First-time status
You must be a first-time homebuyer or generally have not owned a home during the prior three years, and cannot own other real property at closing.
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Income eligibility
Total household income generally may not exceed 80% of area median income, adjusted for household size and verified under program rules.
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Primary residence
Occupy the home within 60 days and keep it as your primary residence during the five-year affordability period.
Required before assistance
Take the eight-hour HUD-approved class.
A SOBU workshop may help you prepare, but it does not replace the required Homebuyer Education Class unless it is delivered by a HUD-approved provider. Certificates are generally valid for one year; older certificates require a refresher or a new course.
Find a HUD-approved provider8HOURSHUD-APPROVED
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
SOBU housing workshop
Get ready for the journey.
Join an informational workshop covering credit readiness, HOP basics, document preparation, lender questions, the eligible search area and realtor representation.
This workshop is informational and is not represented as the required HUD-approved course. Program terms, income limits and funding availability can change. Fulton County and its program partners make all eligibility and funding decisions.