California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

Limited Funding

California Housing Finance AgencyCAFirst-Time Homeowner

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.State 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.Limited WindowDeadline: Scope: Statewide (California)state

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Summary

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.

Benefits

down payment assistanceshared appreciation loanjunior lienstate housing finance agencylarge gap financingCalifornia homebuyer support

Who Can Apply

homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow-income homebuyermoderate-income homebuyerCalifornia homebuyer

Eligible Locations

First time homebuyers purchasing an owner occupied primary residence in California who use an eligible CalHFA first mortgage, meet program income and purchase price limits, complete required homebuyer education and agree to repay the assistance plus a share of appreciation when the home is sold, refinanced or transferred.

Eligibility

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

Full Description

The Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan enables eligible first-time homebuyers to receive up to 20 % of the sales price (not to exceed about $150,000) for down payment or closing costs, in tandem with a CalHFA first mortgage. The assistance is in the form of a shared-appreciation junior loan, where repayment includes the original amount plus a proportionate share of the home’s appreciation. (CalHFA)

Verification & Details

Status: Limited Funding

Source: calhfa.ca.gov

Official source → calhfa.ca.gov

Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 6, 2025

Recommended Resource

First-Time Homebuyer Starter Pack (2025 Edition)

A complete first-time homebuyer toolkit: 9 checklists, timelines, grant guidance, worksheets + editable Excel/Google Sheet budget & affordability calculator.

first-time homebuyerhomebuyer starter packhome buying checklistbudget templategoogle sheet budgetdown payment assistancehomeownership toolkitdigital downloadPDF workbookaffordability calculator

View digital guide Buy now

More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout California that complement this opportunity.

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

View details →

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

View details →

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

View details →

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

View details →

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

View details →

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

View details →