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Grants
Some programs provide grant funds that eligible buyers do not need to repay.
Repayment: Typically none
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOMEBUYER RESOURCE
Down Payment Assistance Programs in Southern California
You may be closer to buying a home than you think. Down payment assistance programs may help eligible buyers reduce the amount of money needed for a down payment, closing costs, or both.
Available programs can depend on where you want to buy, your household income, occupation, loan type, credit profile, and other program requirements. Use the search tool below to explore homebuyer assistance programs that may be available throughout Southern California.
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Search Available Programs Explore down payment and homebuyer assistance based on where you plan to purchase.
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See What May Fit You Program eligibility can vary by income, property location, occupation, household information, and financing.
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Get Help With the Next Step Once you identify possible programs, we can review your financing options and help you understand what may work for your purchase.
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE SEARCH
See Which Homebuyer Programs May Be Available to You
Start by telling us where you are thinking about buying. You can enter a specific property address or search by neighborhood, city, or county.
Then answer a few questions about your household and finances. The Down Payment Resource tool will search for programs that may match the information you provide.
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Enter Where You Want to Buy Search a property, neighborhood, city, or county.
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Answer a Few Questions Tell the tool about your household and purchase.
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Review Possible Programs See assistance programs that may match your situation.
If the program search does not display correctly on your device, you can open the same search directly.
Open Down Payment Assistance SearchProgram availability varies by location, property, household income, financing, homeownership history, occupation, and individual program requirements. Search results show programs that may match the information you provide. Results do not represent loan approval or a guarantee of down payment assistance.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS
How Does Down Payment Assistance Work?
Down payment assistance can help qualified homebuyers reduce the amount of cash they need to purchase a home. Depending on the program, buyers may use assistance toward a down payment, closing costs, or both.
The amount available, repayment rules, and eligibility requirements depend on the specific program and the buyer's situation.
What Is Down Payment Assistance?
Down payment assistance, often called DPA, describes programs that help eligible homebuyers cover some of the upfront cost of buying a home.
Government agencies, housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, employers, and other organizations can sponsor these programs. Each program sets its own rules.
Some programs provide money that buyers never repay. Others provide a second loan that buyers repay later, sometimes when they sell, refinance, or pay off the home.
Common Types of Down Payment Assistance
Assistance does not always work the same way. These are four common structures you may encounter.
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Second Mortgage Assistance
Some programs provide down payment funds through a second mortgage that sits behind the buyer's primary home loan.
Repayment: Depends on program terms 03
Deferred-Payment Assistance
Some programs postpone repayment until a future event such as selling the property, refinancing the mortgage, or paying off the first loan.
Repayment: Often postponed 04
Forgivable Assistance
Some programs forgive part or all of the assistance after the buyer meets certain requirements, such as living in the home for a required period.
Repayment: May decrease over timeELIGIBILITY
Who May Qualify for Down Payment Assistance?
There is no single qualification formula for down payment assistance. Every program can set different guidelines.
A buyer who does not qualify for one program may still qualify for another, which is why searching by your actual location and circumstances can be helpful.
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Where You Want to Buy
Some programs serve a specific city, county, ZIP code, neighborhood, or state.
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Household Income
Many programs use household income limits that can vary by location and household size.
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Homeownership History
Some programs target first-time homebuyers, while other programs can also help eligible repeat buyers.
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Credit and Financing
Programs may set minimum credit standards or require buyers to use certain mortgage products.
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Property Type
A program may limit which homes qualify, including rules for single-family homes, condominiums, manufactured homes, or multi-unit properties.
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Occupation or Buyer Group
Some programs offer additional benefits for teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, veterans, public employees, or other groups.
Do You Have to Be a First-Time Homebuyer?
No. Some down payment assistance programs require first-time homebuyer status, but others allow eligible repeat buyers.
Some programs also use a broader definition of "first-time buyer." For example, certain programs may consider you a first-time buyer if you have not owned a primary residence during the previous three years.
Do not assume that past homeownership automatically disqualifies you. Search the available programs first.
Why Search for Assistance Before You Rule Out Buying?
Many buyers focus on the down payment before they know what assistance may be available. A program could change how much cash you need to bring to closing or how you structure your financing.
The best starting point is to check the programs available for the area where you want to buy, then review the results alongside your mortgage options.
Search Down Payment Assistance ProgramsCOMMON HOMEBUYER QUESTIONS
Down Payment Assistance Frequently Asked Questions
Down payment assistance programs can work very differently from one another. Here are answers to some of the most common questions Southern California homebuyers ask about using assistance to purchase a home.
What is down payment assistance?
Down payment assistance, often called DPA, refers to programs that help eligible homebuyers with some of the upfront costs of purchasing a home.
Depending on the program, assistance may help with the down payment, closing costs, or both. The assistance may come in the form of a grant, second mortgage, deferred-payment loan, forgivable loan, shared appreciation program, or another type of homebuyer benefit.
Is down payment assistance free money?
Sometimes, but not always.
Some programs provide grants that do not require repayment. Others provide loans that must eventually be repaid. Some loans postpone repayment until you sell, refinance, transfer the property, or pay off your first mortgage.
Other programs may forgive assistance over time or require the buyer to share a portion of the home's future appreciation.
You should understand the repayment terms of a specific program before deciding whether it fits your financial goals.
How much down payment assistance can I receive?
There is no single down payment assistance amount. Each program sets its own limits and qualification requirements.
Some programs calculate assistance as a percentage of the home's purchase price or appraised value. Others provide a fixed maximum amount or base assistance on the buyer's financial situation.
The search tool on this page can help identify programs that may be available based on where you want to buy and the information you provide.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?
No. Some programs require you to qualify as a first-time homebuyer, but other assistance programs may also be available to repeat buyers.
Also, "first-time homebuyer" does not always mean you have never owned a home. Many housing programs consider someone a first-time buyer if they have not owned and occupied a primary residence during a specified period, commonly the previous three years.
Program definitions vary, so previous homeownership should not automatically stop you from checking your options.
Can down payment assistance help with closing costs too?
Some programs can help with both the down payment and eligible closing costs.
The amount you can apply toward closing costs depends on the particular assistance program, your mortgage, and the transaction. Your lender can review how the available assistance may be allocated when preparing your financing.
Are there income limits for down payment assistance?
Many down payment assistance programs have household income limits, but those limits vary.
A program may consider the county where you are purchasing, household size, area median income, or other factors when determining eligibility.
This is another reason location matters when searching for available homebuyer assistance.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance?
There is no universal minimum credit score for every down payment assistance program.
Your credit requirements can depend on the assistance program, the first mortgage you use, your debt-to-income ratio, and other underwriting guidelines.
If your credit is keeping you from qualifying today, it may still make sense to review your options and create a plan for becoming eligible.
Can I use down payment assistance with an FHA or conventional loan?
Many assistance programs are designed to work with specific first mortgages, including certain FHA and conventional loan programs. Some programs may also work with VA, USDA, or other financing.
The combination depends on the rules of both the assistance program and the mortgage being used. Your lender needs to review the two programs together.
Can I combine more than one down payment assistance program?
Sometimes. This is often called layering or stacking assistance.
Certain programs allow buyers to combine compatible grants or subordinate loans, while other programs restrict additional assistance.
Your lender must verify that every program involved allows the proposed financing structure.
Does the property location affect which programs I can use?
Yes. Property location can make a significant difference.
Some programs are available statewide, while others apply only to certain counties, cities, ZIP codes, neighborhoods, or designated areas.
That is why the program search on this page starts by asking where you want to purchase.
Do I need to find a house before checking down payment assistance?
No. You can start researching assistance before you have a specific home under contract.
Knowing the city, county, or general area where you want to buy can help narrow the program search. Once you identify a specific property, your lender can confirm whether the property and financing satisfy the applicable program requirements.
Can down payment assistance change my mortgage payment or interest rate?
It can, depending on how the program is structured.
Some assistance programs must be paired with a particular first mortgage. That mortgage may have different pricing, interest rates, fees, mortgage insurance, or repayment terms than another loan you could choose without assistance.
The best comparison is not simply how much assistance you receive. You should compare the complete financing package, including your cash needed at closing, monthly payment, interest rate, fees, and any future repayment obligation.
Are down payment assistance programs only for low-income buyers?
No. Income requirements vary significantly by program and location.
Some programs target low-to-moderate-income households. Others use higher income limits, target certain occupations or communities, or base eligibility on additional factors.
It is better to check the actual programs available than to assume your income automatically makes you ineligible.
What should I do after I find a program that looks promising?
The next step is to review the program with a mortgage professional who can look at your complete financial picture.
A program appearing in a search does not automatically mean you are approved. Your income, credit, debts, mortgage qualification, property, purchase price, and program guidelines still need to be reviewed.
Once those pieces are evaluated together, you can determine which financing option makes the most sense for your home purchase.
READY TO CHECK?
Find Down Payment Assistance for Your Home Purchase
Enter the area where you want to buy and see which homebuyer assistance programs may match your situation.
Down payment assistance programs, mortgage guidelines, interest rates, funding availability, income limits, and qualification requirements can change. Information on this page is for general educational purposes. Eligibility and financing must be reviewed using the requirements of the specific programs available at the time you apply.