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19+ California Down Payment Assistance for First-Time Homeowners

Author: Finance Editors

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California’s 19+ First time homeowners have many down payment assistance programs available to them. There are Federal, statewide, local programs at the counties level and major cities also have their own.

You can find the list and resources below.

 
 

Statewide Down Payment Assistance

 
 

MyHome Assistance Program

 
  • Provides a deferred-payment junior loan for down payment and/or closing costs.
  • Offers up to 3.5% of the purchase price/appraised value for FHA loans and 3% for conventional loans.
  • Available to first-time homebuyers who meet income and loan requirements.
  • More info
 

California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

 
  • Offers up to 20% of the home price to assist with down payment and closing costs.
  • No payments required until the home is sold, refinanced, or transferred.
  • Repayment includes sharing a percentage of the home’s appreciation with the state.
  • More info
 

CalHFA Conventional Loan

 
  • First mortgage loan insured through private mortgage insurance on the conventional market. The interest rate on the CalHFA Conventional is fixed throughout the 30-year term.
  • More info

These programs are all managed by state entities and provide valuable assistance for homebuyers in California.

 
 
 

Federal Programs with Low Down Payment

 

The federal programs are not traditional down payment assistance but since those mortgages require low down payment it’s important to keep them in mind if you have little funds for a down-payment. They’re available across Florida.

 

FHA Loans (Federal Housing Administration):

  • FHA loans allow borrowers to make a down payment as low as 3.5%.
  • Borrowers can use gift funds or assistance from local or state programs for the down payment.
  • More info.
 

VA Loans (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs):

  • Available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses.
  • Requires no down payment and no private mortgage insurance (PMI).
  • More info
 

USDA Loans (U.S. Department of Agriculture):

  • For rural and some suburban homebuyers only.
  • Offers 100% financing with no down payment required, and closing costs can be rolled into the loan.
  • More info
 

Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible:

  • Conventional loan programs that allow down payments as low as 3%.
  • Assistance can be combined with local or state programs.
  • Fannie Mae info and Feddie Mac info.
 
 
 

California’s Counties Down Payment Assistance Programs

 

Almost each county in the state has its assistance program for first time homeowners. If you don’t see your county listed below, go look direct on their site under their home buyers or new homeowners page.

 
 
 

Los Angeles County

 

Home Ownership Program (HOP)

  • Provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers.
  • Assistance is in the form of a deferred-payment loan (forgivable over time).
  • Income limits apply based on household size and area median income.
  • LA County HOP
 
 

San Diego County

 

San Diego Down Payment Assistance Program

 
  • Offers up to 17% of the home purchase price for down payment and closing costs.
  • Available to first-time homebuyers and low-to-moderate income households.
  • Must complete a homebuyer education course.
  • San Diego Home Ownership Programs
 
 

Orange County

 

Orange County Housing and Community Development (HCD)

 
  • Provides down payment assistance loans to eligible first-time homebuyers.
  • Income limits and home price limits apply.
  • Must contribute a minimum of 1% of the purchase price.
  • Orange County HCD
 
 

Riverside County

 

Riverside County First Time Homebuyer Program

 
  • Offers down payment and closing cost assistance.
  • Assistance is a silent second loan (no monthly payments, forgiven after a set period).
  • Must meet income and credit requirements.
  • Riverside County Housing Programs
 
 

San Bernardino County

 

San Bernardino County Down Payment Assistance Program

 
  • Provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers.
  • Must complete a homebuyer education course.
  • Income and purchase price limits apply.
  • San Bernardino County Housing Programs
 
 

Santa Clara County

 

Santa Clara First time buyer assistance

 
 
 

Alameda County

 

Alameda County Down Payment Assistance Loan Program

 
  • Provides down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers.
  • Must meet income and credit requirements.
  • Must complete a homebuyer education course.
  • Alameda County Down Payment Programs
 
 

Sacramento County

 

Sacramento County Down Payment Assistance Program

 
 
 

Contra Costa County

 

Contra Costa County First Time Homebuyer Program

 
 
 

Fresno County

 

Fresno County Down Payment Assistance Program

 
 
 

Ventura County

 

Ventura County Homebuyer Assistance Program

 
 
 

San Francisco County

 

San Francisco Down Payment Assistance Loan Program

 
 

If you don’t see your county listed below, go look direct on their site under their home buyers or new homeowners page.

 
 
 

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