Loans & Assistance
Down payment assistance for first-time Bay Area buyers
Assistance programs open and close with funding, and eligibility rules shift often. Use this as a starting map, then confirm current details before you count on any program.
Program names and terms below are illustrative of what typically exists — verify current availability, funding and eligibility directly with each program.
Program map
Where assistance usually comes from
CalHFA MyHome Assistance
A deferred-payment junior loan toward down payment or closing costs, paired with a CalHFA first mortgage.
CalHFA Dream For All
Shared-appreciation down payment support for first-time buyers, when funding is open.
County down payment programs
Programs like Santa Clara County's down payment assistance vary by county and city and open and close with funding rounds.
Employer-assisted housing
Some Bay Area employers offer forgivable loans or grants toward a first home near their offices.
Good Neighbor Next Door
Discounted pricing on eligible HUD homes for teachers, law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs.
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
A federal tax credit on a portion of the mortgage interest you pay each year, for qualifying first-time buyers.
Eligibility
What most programs check for
Requirements vary, but these factors show up again and again.
- Household income under the program's local limit
- Meets the program's definition of "first-time buyer" (often: no ownership in the last 3 years)
- Completing an approved homebuyer education course
- Occupying the home as a primary residence
- Combined loan-to-value within the program's limit
Next
See how assistance changes your numbers
Add a smaller down payment into the calculator and see the price range and payment shift.
Get the Bay Area first-home numbers each month
City price updates, assistance program changes, new construction openings, and honest notes from our own buying journey. No listings spam.