California Down Payment Assistance
Get Up to 7% Toward Your Home

CalHFA (California Housing Finance Agency) is the state agency offering programs like MyHome Assistance and Dream For All. GSFA (Golden State Finance Authority) is a separate entity offering Platinum, OpenDoors, and SELECT programs. GSFA is often more flexible — their Platinum program doesn't require first-time buyer status and accepts credit scores as low as 640. I shop both to find your best fit.

Dream For All is a CalHFA program offering up to 20% (max $150,000), but it has strict requirements and limited availability. You must be a first-time buyer AND first-generation buyer (your parents never owned a home). It's a shared appreciation loan — you repay the original amount plus 15-20% of your home's appreciation when you sell. Funding opens in limited windows and typically runs out within days. Most buyers won't qualify or won't win the lottery, which is why I focus on programs like GSFA that are always available.

Yes! This is a huge misconception. GSFA Platinum and OpenDoors have NO first-time buyer requirement. If you owned a home 5 or 10 years ago, you can still qualify for up to 7% assistance. CalHFA programs do require first-time status (haven't owned in 3 years), but GSFA doesn't care. I shop both to find options for every buyer.

Most CalHFA programs require a 660 credit score. GSFA programs are more flexible — Platinum and OpenDoors work with 640 credit scores. Some FHA options go as low as 620. If your score is below these thresholds, contact me anyway. I've helped buyers improve their scores quickly with simple strategies.

Income limits vary by county and program. California has high limits due to the cost of living — many programs allow household incomes up to $200,000+ in expensive counties like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Dream For All has stricter limits (150% of Area Median Income for your county). Take the quiz and I'll tell you exactly where you stand.

Yes! GSFA Platinum SELECT offers up to 1.5% ADDITIONAL assistance as a non-repayable gift for teachers, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, nurses, and other qualifying professionals. This stacks on top of the regular 5.5% Platinum assistance. CalHFA also has priority considerations for essential workers.

It depends on the program. CalHFA MyHome is a deferred loan — no monthly payments, but you repay when you sell or refinance. GSFA Platinum includes gift funds that NEVER need repayment. Dream For All is a shared appreciation loan — you repay the original amount plus 15-20% of your home's appreciation. I'll explain all the terms for your specific situation.

From first conversation to getting your keys: typically 45-60 days. The quiz takes 60 seconds. I can usually tell you which programs you qualify for within 24 hours. Then it's finding your home and closing the loan. DPA doesn't slow down your timeline — it integrates with your regular mortgage.

Yes, CalHFA programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. It's done online through providers like eHome America, takes about 6-8 hours (pause and resume anytime), and costs $0-$99. GSFA has its own online course. Most buyers complete it over a weekend. I'll guide you to the right course for your program.

Because each program has different rates, assistance amounts, and requirements. One buyer might get $40,000 at 6.5% through GSFA, but only $25,000 at 7% through CalHFA. Another buyer might not qualify for CalHFA but does qualify for GSFA. Most lenders only know 1-2 programs. I compare every major option to find your best combination of maximum assistance AND lowest rate.