Increase your buying power in California
152 homebuyer assistance programs in California put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 152 programs tell us about buying in California
Mostly loans you repay later
98 of 152 California programs are deferred or repayable second loans, many with shared appreciation. Only 25 are grants or forgivable loans.
The largest awards we track
The median capped award is $60,000, and San Francisco’s City Second Loan and Dream Keeper programs go up to $500,000.
Funding is volatile
24 California programs we track are currently closed, out of funds or waitlisted, the most of any state. Check status before you plan around one.
How the help arrives · 152 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
19 more pay a percentage of the price or loan, which scales with the home you buy. Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
16 programs are available statewide. 136 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 152 California programs and 25 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in California
A few of the 152 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
MyHome Assistance Program
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)Up to 3.5% of the price for FHA loans, or 3% for conventional, toward the down payment with a CalHFA first mortgage.
Zero Interest Program (ZIP)
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)A 0% loan for closing costs, paired with a CalPLUS first mortgage.
Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)Up to 20% of the price, capped at $150,000, toward down payment or closing costs for first-time and first-generation buyers.
Dream Keeper Downpayment Assistance Loan
San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community DevelopmentUp to $500,000 for first-time buyers up to 200% of area median income.
Home Ownership Program (HOP80)
Los Angeles County Development AuthorityThe lesser of $100,000 or 20% of the price for first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income.
ARPA First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance
Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions20% of the price up to $100,000 for households up to 120% of area median income.
25 multi-state programs also serve California
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
FHLBank San Francisco Middle-Income Downpayment Assistance
Grant · 3 states Check eligibilityValley First Credit Union Middle Income Homebuyer Program
Grant · 3 states Check eligibilityThese are 4 of the 25 multi-state programs open to California buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in California
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every California program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
California homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in California?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 90 California programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $60,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
25 of the 152 active programs (16%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 98 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 81 of the 152 California programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 17 programs we track in California are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. California has 16 programs available statewide and 136 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in California, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. 24 programs we track are currently paused, out of funds or waitlisted and not counted on this page. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.