Is trouble with a big downpayment the obstacle that’s holding you back from taking the leap and becoming a homeowner?
We've got you covered! We’ll help you find grants and assistance programs from all over the state that’ll assist you in finding and purchasing your dream home in California.
What's a Downpayment Assistance Program?
Mortgages usually require a downpayment of about 20% of the purchase price of the home. For a normal single-family house, that means that buyers have to save tens of thousands of dollars before they can even consider purchasing a home. California’s downpayment assistance programs are designed to make it easier for people and households with low and moderate incomes to overcome that enormous obstacle.
There are two major types of downpayment assistance that you might be able to use: Interest Free DPA loans, and Conditional DPA Grants. Loans cover about 3% of the sale price (which is the downpayment that would be required if you got an FHA loan). A conditional grant functions like a second mortgage, except that you don’t need to pay it back as long as you meet the conditions of the loan (usually that you live in the home for at least a set number of years).
These aren’t the only possibilities of course. Other great programs in California include:
- Good Neighbor Next Door - Provides loans to teachers, police officers, and firefighters, and emergency medical professionals in low income areas
- Agriculture Rural Development Housing & Community Facilities - Provides assistance to low income buyers in rural areas
- HOME - Provides assistance to low income families with an income under 60% of the local adjusted median income
Beside these, there are many other types of loans that focus on providing assistance to different people according to their needs. We'll help you find the one that's best suited to your situation.