California Home Buyer Assistance
See whether CalHFA assistance fits your purchase plan.
CalHFA offers mortgage and assistance programs for eligible California buyers. RGI helps you understand current availability, borrower requirements, repayment terms, and how assistance affects the complete loan.
Start here
CalHFA Is a State Housing Agency, Not a Direct Lender
The California Housing Finance Agency offers mortgage and assistance programs for eligible California home buyers through approved lenders and loan officers. CalHFA does not accept mortgage applications directly.
Program availability, funding windows, rates, income limits, borrower requirements, and application steps can change. Confirm what is currently available before relying on a program summary.
Planning Support
Use the right tool before the next step.
Overview
Understand the Assistance Structure
MyHome Assistance Program
MyHome is generally structured as a deferred-payment junior loan for eligible down payment or closing costs when paired with an approved CalHFA first mortgage. Deferred does not mean forgiven, and repayment events apply.
Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan
Dream For All uses a shared-appreciation structure and has operated through limited registration and funding windows. It is not continuously open. Current availability and rules must be confirmed directly with CalHFA and an approved lending channel.
Other CalHFA mortgage options
CalHFA may offer Conventional, FHA, VA, or other first-mortgage structures that can be paired with eligible assistance. Approved combinations depend on current rules.
What to prepare
Eligibility Is Program-Specific
Buyer definitions
First-time or first-generation buyer definitions may apply depending on the program.
Income limits
Program income limits can vary by county, household, or area median income rules.
Property and occupancy
Eligible property type, primary occupancy, appraisal, condition, and purchase requirements apply.
Credit and underwriting
Credit, debt-to-income, reserve, and underwriting requirements vary by first mortgage, assistance program, lender, and borrower profile.
Education and funding steps
Home-buyer education, counseling, registration, voucher, or funding-window requirements may apply.
What to know
Compare Assistance With the Alternatives
Before choosing a structure, ask whether the assistance is a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, or shared-appreciation loan; whether interest is charged; what triggers repayment; what happens after a sale or refinance; and how the structure compares with financing without assistance.
The smallest upfront cash requirement is not automatically the best long-term fit.
Next steps
How to Start
1. Confirm current program availability
Review whether the program, funding window, or assistance structure is currently available.
2. Review borrower and property eligibility
Discuss buyer status, income, credit, debts, assets, occupancy, property type, and purchase plan.
3. Complete required steps
Complete any required education, counseling, registration, or voucher step.
4. Apply through the approved channel
Use the secure application and provide the documentation needed for the first mortgage and assistance program.
5. Review repayment terms
Review junior-lien, shared-appreciation, interest, repayment, refinance, and subordination terms before closing.
FAQs
Questions worth answering before you decide.
Is CalHFA assistance a grant?
Not necessarily. Current programs may use a deferred-payment junior loan or a shared-appreciation structure. Review the program documents to understand repayment.
Do I have to be a first-time home buyer?
Many CalHFA programs have a first-time home buyer requirement, but the rule varies. Dream For All may also include a first-generation requirement.
Can I apply directly to CalHFA?
No. CalHFA does not accept mortgage applications directly. Programs are delivered through approved lenders and loan officers.
Are income limits the same for every program?
No. Income limits and the income calculation method can differ by program and may be updated.
What happens if I refinance or sell?
The assistance may need to be repaid, or specific subordination or shared-appreciation rules may apply. Review those obligations before closing.