California • First-Time Homeowner programs

First-Time Homeowner grants in California

Browse first-time homeowner grants available in California, including statewide and local programs.

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10 active programs in California

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Latest opportunities (10)

Local Housing Trust Fund Program

Open

California Department of Housing & Community DevelopmentCAFirst-Time HomeownerState administered competitive and formula based matching grants that provide dollar for dollar state funds to eligible local or regional housing trust funds in order to expand affordable housing activities, including some first time homebuyer and ownership assistance.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

The LHTF program provides state funds to match local housing trust funds, which in turn fund affordable housing activities including acquisition, rehabilitation, and homeownership support

Eligible for: Local/regional housing trust funds (public or nonprofit) that support affordable housing including homeownership.

Funding: Provides state matching funds to local housing trust funds on a dollar for dollar basis, with individual award sizes depending on the size of the local contribution, program round and scoring, so the program does not publish one fixed grant amount.Deadline: timing variesVariesStatewide (California via local and regional housing trust funds)local governmentcounty governmentcity governmenttribal governmentregional agencynonprofit housing trust fundmatching grantlocal housing trust fundaffordable housing productionhomeownership supportgap financingstate housing program

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Local Housing Trust Fund Program

Open

California Department of Housing & Community DevelopmentCAFirst-Time HomeownerState matching grant program that provides dollar for dollar funds to eligible local or regional housing trust funds to expand resources for affordable housing activities including homeownership assistance.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

The LHTF program provides state funds to match local housing trust funds, which in turn fund affordable housing activities including acquisition, rehabilitation, and homeownership support

Eligible for: Local/regional housing trust funds (public or nonprofit) that support affordable housing including homeownership.

Funding: Provides state matching funds to local housing trust funds based on locally raised revenue, with award sizes determined by the program formula and funding availability rather than a fixed household level grant amount.Deadline: timing variesVariesStatewide (California local and regional housing trust funds)local governmentcounty governmentcity governmentregional agencynonprofit housing trusttribal governmentmatching grantlocal housing trust fundaffordable housingdown payment assistanceproduction and rehabilitationstate housing program

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Homebuyer Programs Overview

Open

California Housing Finance AgencyCAFirst-Time HomeownerState housing finance agency programs that pair fixed rate first mortgages with a range of subordinate loans and assistance options such as down payment and closing cost help for eligible homebuyers.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Overview portal of CalHFA’s suite of homebuyer assistance programs for first-time homebuyers in California.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers, meet specific program criteria (loan type, income, credit, occupancy)

Funding: Assistance amounts vary by CalHFA program and may include down payment help like the MyHome Assistance Program, zero interest junior loans, and other specialized options such as Dream For All that are generally calculated as a percentage of the purchase price or loan amount.Deadline: Rolling depending on programRollingStatewide (California)homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancefirst mortgagestate housing finance agencyfixed rate loanhomebuyer education requiredCalifornia homebuyer support

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CalHFA Homebuyer Programs Overview

Open

California Housing Finance AgencyCAFirst-Time HomeownerState housing finance agency programs that offer 30 year fixed rate mortgages combined with optional down payment and closing cost assistance through junior loans and specialty products targeted at first time buyers.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A broad overview of CalHFA’s suite of homebuyer loan and assistance programs for first-time buyers in California.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers, meet income/credit/homebuyer education requirements

Funding: Assistance levels differ by program but generally provide a percentage of the purchase price or loan amount to be used for down payment and closing costs through tools like the MyHome Assistance Program and other CalHFA subordinate financing options.Deadline: Rolling depending on programRollingStatewide (California)homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancefirst mortgagestate housing finance agencyfixed rate loanhomebuyer education requiredCalifornia homebuyer support

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Pathway to Home Closing Cost Assistance Grant Program

Temporarily Closed

California Association of REALTORSCAFirst-Time HomeownerStatewide closing cost assistance provided as a non repayable grant funded through the California Association of Realtors Housing Affordability Fund in partnership with a nonprofit administrator.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A grant program to assist first-time homebuyers in underserved communities with closing costs, up to $10,000, in partnership with REALTORS.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers from underserved communities, ≤ 120% AMI, must use California REALTOR®, no more than $20k savings post-purchase

Funding: Provides a grant of up to 10000 dollars that can be applied toward eligible closing costs with no repayment required if program conditions are met.Deadline: First-come, first-serve; funding currently depleted as of mid-2024 First-comeStatewide (California)homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerunderserved community homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyerclosing cost assistancegrantnonprofit partnershipunderserved borrowersCalifornia homebuyer supportfirst time buyer incentive

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MyHome Assistance Program

Open

California Housing Finance AgencyCAFirst-Time HomeownerState housing finance agency junior loan that provides a deferred payment silent second mortgage to cover part of the down payment and closing costs when paired with a CalHFA first mortgage.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Deferred-payment junior loan for down payment/closing costs to help first-time buyers access homeownership.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers (or no ownership last 3 years), primary residence, must use CalHFA first mortgage; meet income/credit limits; home mus…

Funding: Offers assistance up to 3.5 percent of the purchase price or appraised value for FHA and conventional loans and up to 3 percent for USDA or VA loans, structured as a deferred payment junior loan due when the first mortgage is refinanced, paid off or the home is sold.Deadline: Rolling / when funds availableRollingStatewide (California)homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancedeferred payment loanjunior lienstate housing finance agencysilent second mortgageCalifornia homebuyer support

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HOME Investment Partnerships Program

Closed

California Department of Housing & Community DevelopmentCAFirst-Time HomeownerFederal HOME block grant funds administered by the state as grants or low interest loans to eligible local governments and nonprofit sponsors for affordable housing activities including first time homebuyer assistance.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Federal HOME block-grant funding administered by HCD to support affordable housing including first-time homebuyer assistance.

Eligible for: Cities/counties, developers, CHDOs; includes first-time homebuyer projects.

Funding: Award amounts are determined through competitive application and are sized to meet HOME program limits for acquisition, rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance or rental housing rather than a fixed per household grant amount.Deadline: Application due May 22 2025 for non-tribal; tribal over-counter until Sept 24, 2025.RFP DeadlineStatewide (California eligible jurisdictions)local governmentcounty governmentcity governmenttribal governmentnonprofit housing developercommunity housing development organizationblock grantaffordable housingdown payment assistancehomebuyer assistanceowner occupied rehabilitationrental housing productionfederal HOME program

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California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

Limited Funding

California Housing Finance AgencyCAFirst-Time HomeownerState housing finance agency shared appreciation junior loan that provides a large portion of the down payment in exchange for repayment of the principal plus a share of future home price appreciation.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A down payment assistance program for first-time buyers, providing a junior loan up to 20% of purchase price, repayable at sale/transfer with share of home appreciation.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers, in conjunction with CalHFA first mortgage, shared appreciation required

Funding: Provides a shared appreciation junior loan of up to 20 percent of the home purchase price, typically capped at about 150000 dollars, that can be used toward down payment and closing costs and is repaid along with a portion of the home value gain.Deadline: Registration opens (random drawing) for next round Limited WindowStatewide (California)homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyerdown payment assistanceshared appreciation loanjunior lienstate housing finance agencylarge gap financingCalifornia homebuyer support

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ReCover CA Homebuyer Assistance Program

Open

California Department of Housing & Community DevelopmentCAFirst-Time HomeownerState administered disaster recovery homebuyer assistance that uses forgivable zero interest second mortgage loans funded by federal disaster and mitigation dollars to close the affordability gap for disaster impacted households.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A disaster-recovery homebuyer assistance program providing forgivable second-mortgage loans to help disaster-impacted households bridge the affordability gap when buying a home.

Eligible for: Low- and moderate-income renters or homeowners impacted by qualified disasters (e.g., 2017–20 wildfires or 2023/24 floods) in specified coun…

Funding: Offers forgivable zero percent interest second mortgage loans up to 300000 dollars for 2023 and 2024 flood events and up to 350000 dollars for earlier wildfire disasters that can be used for down payment, closing costs and purchase price gap financing.Deadline: Starts/opens Nov 10 2025 for 2023/24 funds; funds limited. RollingTargeted California disaster impacted countieshomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerdisaster-impacted renterdisaster-impacted homeownerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancegap financingforgivable second mortgagedisaster recoverystate housing programCalifornia homebuyer support

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CalHome Program

Open

California Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentCAFirst-Time HomeownerState program that provides grants to local public agencies and nonprofit corporations which in turn offer deferred payment loans and related assistance to low and very low income homeowners and first time homebuyers.

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Enables first-time homebuyers and homeowners in need of rehab to access affordable homeownership or preserve owner-occupied housing.

Eligible for: Local public agencies and nonprofit corporations apply; assists individual homeowners via deferred loans

Funding: Program level awards to local sponsors are determined through NOFA rounds, and sponsors then make individual deferred payment loans sized to household need and program limits rather than a single standardized grant amount.Deadline: Rolling / by NOFA cycles NOFAStatewide (California via local program operators)local governmentcounty governmentcity governmentnonprofit housing organizationtribal governmentdeferred payment loandown payment assistanceowner occupied rehabilitationADU and JADU supportstate housing programlow-income homeowner assistance

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