Calling all first-time homebuyers in the sunny state of California. Explore affordable homeownership options in the Golden State with this comprehensive guide. Discover specialized assistance programs and resources designed specifically for California residents. From down payment assistance to favorable mortgage options, navigate the dynamic California real estate market.
State-Wide Programs
| Program | Assistance Offered | Assistance Type | Who Should Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program | Up to $10,000 down payment and/or closing cost assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyers that can meet income requirements |
| GSFA Mortgage Credit Certificate Program (GSFA MCC®) | Reduces up to 20%in mortgage interest that you pay into federal taxes for the life of your loan | Tax credit | First time homebuyers that can meet income requirements |
| GSFA Open Doors - Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to 7% of the home loan that can be used for down payment and closing costs assistance | Second mortgage | Homebuyers that can meet income requirements |
| GSFA Platinum - Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to 5% of the home loan that can be used for down payment and closing costs assistance | Forgivable second mortgage | Homebuyers that can meet income and credit score requirements |
Regional Programs
| County/Region | Program | Assistance Offered | Assistance Type | Who Should Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | AC Boost | Up to $150,000 in down payment assistance | Deferred loan | First time homebuyer who lives or works in Alameda County and meets income requirements |
| El Dorado | First-Time Homebuyer's Assistance Loan Program | Up to $30,000 in down payment assistance | Deferred loan with a 3% interest rate | First time homebuyers that meet income requirements |
| Fresno | Homebuyers Assistance Program (HAP) | Up to 20% of the purchase price that can be used for down payment and closing cost assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyers purchasing a home in unincorporated Fresno County or the cities of Fowler, Kerman, Kingsburg, Reedley, and Selma |
| Glenn | Homeownership Assistance Program | Up to $40,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage with a 3% interest rate | Homebuyers purchasing in unincorportated Glenn County and meets income requirements |
| Humboldt | First Time Home Buyer Assistance Program | Up to $46,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Imperial | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $60,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Lake | First-Time Homebuyer Program | Up to 50% of the purchase price that can be used for down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who lives and is buying in Lake County |
| Los Angeles | First Home Mortgage Program | Up to 4% of home purchase price that can be used for down payment and closing cost assistance. | Grant | Any first time homebuyer buying within Los Angeles and Orange County |
| Madera | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $55,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Merced | First Time Homebuyer Programs | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Monterey | First Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to 20% of the purchase price that can be used for down payment and closing cost assistance | Second mortgage with a 3% interest rate | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Napa | Proximity Housing Homebuyer's Assistance Program | Up to 10% of the purchase price that can be used for down payment assistance | Second mortgage | Homebuyer who works in Napa County and meets income requirements |
| Nevada | Down Payment Assistance | Up to $60,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements |
| Orange | Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) | Up to $40,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage with a 3% interest rate | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements |
| Placer | First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Riverside | Mortgage Credit Certificate Program | Reduces up to 20% in mortgage interest that you pay into federal taxes for the life of your loan | Tax credit | First time homebuyer who meets income and home purchase price requirements |
| Sacramento | Sacramento Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program | Reduces up to 20% in mortgage interest that you pay into federal taxes for the life of your loan | Tax credit | First time homebuyer who purchases a home within the cities of Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Isleton, Galt, Citrus Heights, and the County of Sacramento. |
| San Bernardino | Homeownership Assistance Program | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer who was in HACSB affordable housing and rental assistance program for at least one year. |
| San Diego | DCCA/CalHome Program | Up to 17% of the purchase price used for down payment assistance and up to $10,000 in closing costs assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements |
| San Francisco | Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (DALP) | Up to $375,000 in down payment assistance | Deferred second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirments |
| San Joaquin | Down Payment Assistance | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | Second mortgage | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements in the cities of Avenal, Exeter, rural Merced County, Chowchilla, Delano, Farmersville, Tulare, Corcoran, Dinuba, Kings County, Visalia, or Woodlake |
| San Mateo | HEART First-Time Homebuyer Program | Low 5% down payment home loan | Loan | First time homebuyers who live or work in San Mateo County and meet income requirements |
| Santa Barbara | Workforce Homebuyer Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | Deferred second mortgage | Homebuyers that work in Santa Barbara County |
| Santa Clara | Empower Homebuyers SCC | Up to 17% of a home’s purchase price in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First-time homebuyers buying in Santa Clara County |
| Santa Clara | Homebuyer Empowerment Loan Program (HELP) | Up to 10% of a home’s purchase price in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First-time homebuyers buying in Santa Clara County or the cities of Menlo Park or East Palo Alto |
| Santa Cruz | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $150,000 in down payment assistance | Deferred second mortgage | First time homebuyers purchasing a home in unincoportated Santa Cruz County |
| Sonoma | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $50,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyer that is currently employed by Sonoma county |
| Stanislaus | Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to $50,000 in down payment assistance | Second mortgage | First time homebuyers purchasing a home in unincorporated Stanisalus County |
| Tuolumne | County First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | Deferred second mortgage | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Tuolumne | WISH Down Payment Matching Grant Program | Up to $22,000 in down payment assistance | 4:1 matching grant | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
| Yolo | First Time Homebuyer Program | Down payment and closing cost assistance - amount not specified | Second mortgage with a 0% interest rate | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements |
City Programs
| City | Program | Assistance Offered | Who Should Apply | Assistance Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | Homeownership Programs | Reduces up to 15% in mortgage interest that you pay into federal taxes for the life of your loan | First time homebuyers | Tax credit |
| Anaheim | Attainable Homeownership | Up to $125,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyers that can meet income requirements and buying within the city limits of Colony Park | Second mortgage |
| Banning | Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) | Up to $20,000 in down payment assistance | Homebuyers who meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Brentwood | Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to $10,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Buena Park | First-Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $58,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Chula Vista | CalHome First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $70,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer purchasing a home in Chula Vista and meets income requirements | Deferred loan with a 3% interest rate |
| Citrus Heights | Home Buying Assistance | Up to 40% of the home loan in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer that can meet income requirements | Second mortgage with a 3% insterest rate |
| Coachella | First Time Homebuyer Program Downpayment Assistance Program | Up to $60,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Colusa | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to 50% of the home price as down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage with a 2% interest rate |
| Compton | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $80,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Subsidy |
| Concord | Affordable Homeownership | Up to $40,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Corcoran | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to 49% of the purchase price of the home that can be used for down payment assistance | First time homebuyer purchasing a home in Corcoran and meets income requirements | Second mortgage with a 0% interest rate |
| Dinuba | Homebuyer Assistance Program | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Downey | Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to $60,000 in down payment assistance | Homebuyers who meet income requirements | Second mortgage with a 3% insterest rate |
| El Cajon | Homebuyer Assistance Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| El Centro | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $25,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer purchasing a home in El Centro and meets income requirements | Deferred second mortgage with a 0% interest rate |
| El Monte | Homebuyer Assistance Program | Up to 50% of the down payment or closing costs | Homebuyer who meets income requirements | Forgivable second mortgage |
| Elk Grove | Homebuyer Assistance Program | Up to $59,650 in down payment and closing costs assistance | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Emeryville | First Time Home-buyer Loan Program | Up to 20% of the purchase price of the home used for down payment assistance | First time homebuyers purchasing in Emeryville and meets income requirements | Deferred second mortgage |
| Escondido | Homebuyer Entry Loan Program (HELP) | Up to 5% of the purchase price towards down payment and closing cost assistance | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Greenfield | Home Buyer Program | Up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance | Homebuyers who meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Gridley | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to 50% of the home price as down payment assistance | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Hanford | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $75,000 for down payment and closing costs assistance | First time homebuyers | Second mortgage |
| Hawthorne | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $125,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Inglewood | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $350,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who has lived in the city of Inglewood for 3-5 years and meets income requirements | Lottery |
| Lakeport | First Time Home Buyers Program | Up to $50,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Lancaster | Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to 50% of the home purchase price for down payment assistance | Veterans and homebuyers that can meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Livermore | Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) | Up to $60,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Los Angeles | Low Income Purchase Assistance | Up to $90,000 in down payment and closing costs assistance | First time homebuyers that can meet income requireements | Second mortgage |
| Los Angeles | Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program | Up to $60,000 in down payment and closing costs assistance | First time homebuyers that can meet income requireements | Second mortgage |
| Los Angeles | Mortgage Credit Certificate | Reduces up to 20% in mortgage interest that you pay into federal taxes for the life of your loan | First time homebuyers that can meet income requireements | Tax credit |
| Mammoth Lakes | Help for Homebuyers | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements and buying a home in Mammoth Lakes | Second mortgage |
| Modesto | Homebuyers Assistance Program | Up to $60,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Napa | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $150,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Norwalk | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $85,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebueyr who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Oakdale | First-Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Oakland | First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) | Up to $75,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who is a resident or worker in Oakland and meets income requirements | Deferred loan with a 3% interest rate |
| Oroville | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer purchasing a home in Oroville and meets income requirements | Deferred loan with a 3% interest rate |
| Oxnard | Homebuyer Assistance Program | Up to $30,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who is a resident of Oxnard and meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Palm Desert | BEGIN Program | Up to $30,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets requirements | Deferred loan |
| Paradise | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $40,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements and buying a home in Paradise | Second mortgage |
| Patterson | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Pittsburg | First Time Homebuyer Program | Up to $20,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Loan with a 3% interest rate |
| Pomona | First Time Homebuyer Program (MAP) | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer purchasing a home in Pomona and meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Porterville | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to 35% of purchase price of the home for down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage with a 1% interest rate |
| Poway | Supporting Home Ownership in Poway (SHOP) Program | Down payment assistance- amount not specified | First time homebueyr who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Red Bluff | Home Buyer Program | Up to 50% of the home purchase price for down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets requirements | Second mortgage |
| Redding | Homebuyer Program | Up to $90,000 in down payment assistance | Homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Rialto | Mortgage Assistance Program | Up to $27,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Riverbank | First Time Home Buyers Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Rosemead | Down Payment Assistance Program | Up to $70,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Santa Ana | Down Payment Assistance Loan Program | Up to $80,000 down payment assistance | First time homebuyer and citizen of Santa Ana for at least 6 months and can meet income requirements | Second mortgage with a 0% interest rate |
| San Diego | Closing Cost Forgivable Loan Program | Up to $10,000 in closing cost assistance | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements | Grant |
| San Diego | Down Payment Program | Up to 17% of the purchase price of the home for down payment assistance | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements | Deferred second mortgage with a 3% insterest rate |
| San Diego | Homeownership Grant Program | Up to $10,000 in closing cost assistance | First time homebuyers who meet income requirements and participate in the down payment loan program | Grant |
| San Diego | Mortgage Credit Certificate | Reduces up to 20% in mortgage interest that you pay into federal taxes for the life of your loan | Homebuyers who meet requirements | Tax credit |
| San Pablo | WISH: San Pablo Economic Development Corporation | Up to $22,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Matching grant 4:1 |
| Shasta Lake | Homebuyer Program (HP) | Up to $80,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Sonora | Homebuyer's Assistance Loan Program | Up to $100,000 in down payment or mortgage subsidy assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Stockton | Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) | Up to $10,000 in down payment assistance | Homebuyers who have lived or worked in Stockton for a year and meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Sunnyvale | First-time Home Buyer Loan (FTHB) | Up to $50,000 in down payment assistance | First-time home buyers who live or work in Sunnyvale and meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Susanville | Homeownership Assistance Program | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Tulare | First-Time Homebuyer Program | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage with a 0% interest rate |
| Turlock | First Time Home Buyers Program | Up to $50,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage with a 3% insterest rate |
| Vallejo | Mortgage Assistance Program | Up to $40,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Deferred loan |
| Victorville | Mortgage Assistance Program | Up to $55,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance | First time homebuyer buying in Victorville and meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Walnut Creek | First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program | Up to $65,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Watsonville | First Time Homebuyer Program | Down payment assistance - amount not specified | First time homebuyer buying a home within the city limits of Watsonville | Second mortgage with a 1% interest rate |
| West Sacramento | Homebuyer Assistance Program | Up to $20,000 in down payment assistance | Homebuyers must be a resident or work in West Sacramento and meet income requirements | Second mortgage |
| Yuba City | First Time Home Buyer Program | Up to $75,000 in down payment assistance | First time homebuyer who meets income requirements | Deferred loan with a 3% interest rate |
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