Assistance can reduce the cash you bring to a California purchase. It may also add a second loan, repayment conditions or a share of future appreciation. Begin with the program’s current rules and funding status before including assistance in your offer budget.
Know what kind of help you are receiving
- Grant: Review the award terms and any conditions that could require repayment.
- Deferred loan: Payment is postponed under stated rules. The debt remains and may come due after a sale, refinance or another trigger.
- Forgivable loan: Forgiveness depends on meeting the stated requirements over time. An early move can change the outcome.
- Shared appreciation: Repayment can include the original assistance plus a share of appreciation. The future payoff is not simply the original balance.
A program that lowers upfront cash does not necessarily provide the lowest rate or total cost. Ask for the first mortgage and assistance obligation together.
Use current CalHFA information
CalHFA’s MyHome program describes a deferred-payment junior loan for eligible down payment or closing costs, used with specified CalHFA first mortgages. Borrower income, first-time status, education and property requirements apply. CalHFA uses approved lenders rather than lending directly to consumers. The allowed assistance depends on the first-mortgage program and the lesser of price or appraised value. Review current MyHome eligibility and application instructions.
Dream For All is a different shared-appreciation program. As checked November 13, 2026, its portal is closed to new voucher applications following the March 16, 2026 deadline. Existing applicants should use the official portal to check their status. Its first-generation and first-time buyer rules are program-specific. A future funding round should not be assumed. CalHFA publishes the current Dream For All status.
Other state, city, county, employer or nonprofit assistance may have different boundaries and funding cycles. Ask the administering organization for current written terms. Older program names and an old article’s dollar amount are not evidence of availability.
Resolve compatibility before signing a contract
- Identify the administrator and confirm that applications or reservations are currently available.
- Verify the buyer definition, income method, household rules and property location.
- Confirm the participating lender and which first mortgage can be combined with the assistance.
- Complete the approved education and counseling steps at the required time.
- Obtain the payment, interest, maturity and repayment-trigger terms for every obligation.
- Ask who reserves funds, when approval occurs and what could cause a reservation to expire.
Have the lender compare an eligible assistance structure with a purchase using your own funds. Include rates, fees, monthly payments, cash retained and the consequences of a later sale or refinance. A voucher or preliminary eligibility result is not final mortgage approval.
Mortgage hardship assistance has a different purpose
If you already own a home and are struggling with payments, contact the servicer using a verified statement number and consider a HUD-approved housing counselor. Homebuyer down payment assistance is not a substitute for a servicing workout.
The California Mortgage Relief Program is no longer accepting applications or offering grants as of this review. Its official site directs homeowners toward housing counseling. Do not rely on archived claims that it is open or that forgiveness is automatic. Check the program’s current homeowner information.
Ask Douglas how assistance would affect a financing comparison. ECHL’s participation in a particular program must be confirmed before relying on it; general education does not establish access or an award.
Sources & further reading
This article is maintained by Equity Capital Home Loans. Program rules can change. Confirm the requirements for your property and loan before making a decision.