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Is there down payment assistance where I’m buying?

See state and local programs that help first-time buyers with a down payment and closing costs where you’re buying.

Your numbers

Some programs add money for first-generation buyers.

Estimates only. Nothing you enter is saved.

Programs for California 2 to look into Most require a program first mortgage, income limits and a homebuyer class

Programs

  • CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program Open · Deferred loan
    Up to 3.5% of the price or appraised value (whichever is less) with an FHA or other government loan; up to 3% with a conventional loan. A deferred-payment second loan for down payment and/or closing costs, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first mortgage. Paired with a CalHFA first mortgage. Available year-round, subject to funding. Who qualifies: First-time buyers; CalHFA income limits by county; homebuyer education; a CalHFA first mortgage through an approved lender.
    Agency website →
    Not yet confirmed by us: check the agency’s site for current amounts and rules.
  • CalHFA Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan Closed for now · Shared appreciation loan
    Up to 20% of the price, max $150,000, when a round is open. A second loan repaid when you sell or refinance, plus a share of the home’s increase in value. It’s offered in funding rounds by lottery; the 2026 registration closed March 16, 2026, and no new round has been announced. Who qualifies: First-time and first-generation buyers; income limits; homebuyer education; a Dream For All first mortgage.
    Agency website →
    Not yet confirmed by us: check the agency’s site for current amounts and rules.

Assistance usually comes as a forgivable or deferred second loan rather than a gift, and it often has to be repaid if you sell or refinance early. Program lenders can tell you which you qualify for and whether they can be combined.

Local city and county programs change often; we list the main ones for the areas we cover.

Next stepDown payment timelineHow long saving would takeNext stepCash to closeWhat you’d still need to bring

How down payment assistance works

State housing finance agencies, some cities and a few banks offer help with the down payment and closing costs, mainly for first-time buyers with moderate incomes. The money usually comes as a second loan with no monthly payment that is forgiven over time or repaid when you sell or refinance, and sometimes as a grant.

Common requirements

  • First-time buyer status, often defined as not having owned a home in the last three years.
  • Household income and purchase price limits, which vary by county.
  • A program first mortgage from a participating lender.
  • A homebuyer education course.
  • Living in the home as your main residence for a set number of years.

Programs in the areas we cover

In New Jersey, the state housing agency offers down payment assistance with an extra amount for first-generation buyers. In New York, the state mortgage agency offers a forgivable down payment loan with its mortgages. In California, the state housing agency offers a deferred second loan and, in some years, a larger shared-appreciation program by lottery. Some cities, including San Francisco, run their own programs. Amounts and availability change, so always confirm on the agency’s site.

An example

A first-time buyer in New York purchasing a $400,000 home with a state agency mortgage might qualify for a forgivable assistance loan of 3% of the price, $12,000, toward the down payment and closing costs.

Things to check before you rely on it

  • Whether the program rate on the first mortgage is higher than a regular loan, and what that costs over time.
  • How much you’d repay if you sell or refinance early.
  • Whether sellers in competitive markets view program financing differently, and how long approval takes.

How to apply

Most programs are reached through a participating lender rather than by applying to the agency directly. Start by asking a lender that offers the state agency’s mortgages whether you qualify, take the homebuyer education course early since it can take a few weeks to schedule, and gather the same documents you’d need for any pre-approval. Apply before you make offers, so your pre-approval letter reflects the assistance.

Questions buyers ask

Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?

Often only if you sell, refinance or move out before a set number of years. Some programs are repaid when you sell regardless, and some are grants.

Can I combine programs?

Sometimes. Program lenders know which can be combined.

Who counts as a first-time buyer?

Usually anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the last three years, though definitions vary by program.