City of Norwalk First Time Home Buyer Program
Available Assistance
The City can invest up to $85,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. These assistance funds will be given to qualifying applicants in the form of zero-interest loans. The amount each borrower receives varies based on sale price, annual household income, and down payment amount.
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must be first-time homebuyers, defined as those who have not owned a home during the three-year period immediately prior to the purchase, or someone who has owned a home within the last three years but qualifies as a displaced homemaker or a single parent. The applicant’s household must be considered low-income. This means the annual household income must fall at or under 80% of the area median income. Additionally, applicants must have a debt-to-income ratio no higher than 40%, and they are required to contribute a minimum of 3% of the purchase price towards the down payment.
Property Guidelines
Any home purchased with program funds must serve as the borrower’s primary residence and not exceed 95% of the area median purchase price for the type of housing. Eligible property types include single-family homes, condominiums, or manufactured homes (must be located on land that is owned by the manufactures housing unit owner, or land on which they have a lease for at least the period of affordability). All homes purchased must be suitable for the size of the household and must be appraised by a qualified appraiser.
*Seller-funded down payment programs were eliminated in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, but state and local government agencies are still permitted to help borrowers finance their homes with second mortgages and grants. These agencies set different requirements that a borrower needs to meet in order to qualify for the grant programs, such as property location, and purchase price and income limits.
Note: All figures mentioned above were accurate at the time of publication and may no longer be current. Visit the program website for updated information.
First-Time Homebuyer Programs in California
City of Oakland First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP)
The City of Oakland offers low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers the Mortgage Assistance Program. Program applicants receive assistance funds in order to help offset the costs of purchasing a new home.
Fremont First-Time Homebuyer Program BMP Homes
The City of Fremont offers first-time homebuyers assistance with its Below Market Price Homes program to help residents afford and purchase their first-home.
Fresno County's First-Time Homebuyer Program
California’s Fresno County offers the 1st Time Homebuyer Program in an effort to help eligible low- and moderate-income families purchase their first home in the unincorporated area and partner cities.
City of Norwalk First Time Home Buyer Program
The City of Norwalk's First Time Home Buyer program helps low-income families the opportunity to affordably purchase their first home.
County of San Diego’s First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program
In order to help low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers, the San Diego Housing Commission administered the County of San Diego's First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program.
San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) First-Time Homebuyer Program
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) First-Time Homebuyer Program can assist eligible buyers with the purchase of single-family homes, townhomes, or condominiums.
Los Angeles First-Time Home Mortgage Program
Under the First Home Mortgage Program, applicants can receive up to 4 percent of the total first mortgage amount to be put toward paying the down payment and closing cost assistance. This assistance comes in the form of a grant, which has no repayment terms.
Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program
The Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program helps first-time, moderate income homebuyers purchase homes by providing loans to cover the down payment, acquisition, and closing costs.
First-time homebuyer assistance programs and/or grants were researched by the team at FHA.com. Please note that all programs listed on this website may involve a second mortgage with payments that are forgiven, deferred, or subsidized in some manner until resale of the mortgaged property.
FHA.com's compilation is not a complete list, but it can serve as a starting point in your search for the down payment assistance program or grant for your situation. It is up to the consumer to contact these entities and find out the specifics of each program.
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
