The down payment assistance programs that are listed here are a sample of what is available for homebuyers in California. This can be your starting point as you search for the right program for your family.

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Brentwood Down Payment Assistance Program

Financial Assistance for Homebuyers in California

The City of Brentwood recognized that that many potential homebuyers who can afford monthly mortgage payments don’t have the funds saved up to pay the hefty, upfront costs associated with a home loan. To help overcome this hurdle, the City offers first-time homebuyers the Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP), which provides funds that go toward the down payment and/or closing costs.

The DAP funds will assist the first time homebuyer with the down payment and/or closing costs. Funds for the DAP are limited, so all loans will be on a first‐come, first‐ served basis to qualified borrowers.

Available Assistance
DAP provides assistance funds in the form of a deferred payment loan program for income eligible applicants purchasing their first home in the City of Brentwood. Funds are limited, so the program works on a first‐come, first‐served basis, with $10,000 being the maximum loan amount. This loan may only be used with conventional, fixed rate loans in first position. Repayment is deferred until:
  • The term of the first mortgage is reached,
  • When the borrower vacates the property, or
  • When the home is refinanced for a larger first mortgage.
At that time, borrowers must repay the City’s loan plus accrued interest. The loan accrues interest until it is paid off, with the interest rate changing over time. Ranges are 7, 5, and 3 percent, starting higher and decreasing the longer the borrower lives in the home.

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the program, all applicants must be first-time homebuyers, who have not owned a home in the State of California within the last three years. Applicants must have an annual household income at or under 120 percent of the area median income, and are required to contribute at least 3 percent of the down payment from their own funds. The program mandates that all applicants complete a first-time homebuyer education course, and procure a first mortgage through one of the City’s preferred lenders.
 
*Seller-funded down payment programs were eliminated in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, but States 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.
 

Down payment 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.

Down Payment Grants in California

The City of Brentwood offers first-time homebuyers the Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP), which provides funds that go toward the down payment and/or closing costs. Assistance comes in the form of a deferred payment loan program for first-time homebuyers.

The CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program offers applicants a deferred-payment junior loan up to 3% of the purchase price/appraised value of the mortgaged property in order to help make the down payment or pay the closing costs.

​The First Time Homebuyer Loan Program that was established by the City of Emeryville  provides down payment assistance to households at or below moderate income. This initiative gets individuals out of the renter’s trap by helping them to pay the heavy, upfront costs of purchasing a home.

The California Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) created the Platinum Program, which provides low-to-moderate income California homebuyers with down payment and/or closing cost assistance to help them achieve their goals of purchasing a home.

The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) provides low- and moderate- income households with down payment assistance via the Affordable Homeownership Program.

The FTHB Program provides down payment assistance in the form of a loan, the maximum amount of which may not exceed the lesser of the maximum HOME subsidy limit, 20 percent of the purchase price, or the amount needed as determined by underwriting criteria. The maximum loan amount will never exceed the amount of the primary loan.

The Orange County Housing and Development Mortgage Assistance Program provides down payment assistance loans to assist low-income first-time homebuyers.

The  San Diego County Down Payment / CalHome Program provides applicants up to 17 percent of the total property price for down payment assistance, and 4 percent (up to $10,000) in closing costs assistance. These funds come in the form of a loan with 3 percent simple interest per year, accrued annually.

Santa Ana’s Downpayment Assistance Loan Program provides eligible applicants up to $40,000 to be put toward the down payment on their new home. These funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, in the form of a zero-interest loan.

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