We are here to help you

Call us: 1-866-361-3406

California First Time Home Buyer Programs

First Time Home Buyer Programs in California
Mortgage Loan Options - Down Payment Assistance

California First Time Home Buyer – 2023 Loan Programs

Are you a first time home buyer looking to purchase a home in California?  On this page you can learn about the different types of mortgage programs that are available to first time home buyers.  You may also view the different down payment assistance programs that are currently being offered in California.

California First Time Home Buyer Loans

Below are some mortgage programs that are available to first time home buyers.

Types of Mortgages:

  • Conventional Loans – Conventional loans offer the best loan terms to borrowers with good or excellent credit, as well as those who can afford to place a larger down payment.  If you are able to put 20% or more down, you will be able to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI).  However, conventional loans also offer low down payment options, such as programs that only require 3% down.
  • FHA Loans – FHA loans are a good option for borrowers who may not be able to qualify for a conventional loan.  The qualification requirements for FHA loans are much more lenient than conventional loans.  This includes options for home buyers with credit scores as low as 500 (in order to qualify for a 3.5% down payment, you must have a credit score of at least 580).
  • USDA Loans – USDA loans provide home buyers the opportunity to purchase a rural home without any down payment.  These loans are intended for borrowers with low-to-moderate income.  In addition to not requiring any money down, you can also finance the closing costs into the loan.  This means you can essentially buy a home with no money out of pocket!
  • VA Loans – Active duty military members and veterans can apply for a VA loan which allows you to buy your first home without any down payment.  These loans are not available to the general public, but exclusively to military/veterans.
  • Jumbo Loans – Any mortgage that does not meet the conforming loan limits is a jumbo loan.  You can lookup the 2023 conforming loan limits for your county using this conforming loan limit lookup tool.  If you want to buy a more expensive home, and have the income to qualify, jumbo lenders offer loan amounts up to $5,000,000.
  • Non-Prime Loans – If you do not qualify for any of the above types of loans, you may consider a non-prime or non-qm loan.  These programs are especially helpful to self-employed borrowers, and a variety of people with credit issues (such as low credit scores and/or a recent bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale).  Regardless of your situation, you may want to learn more about non-prime loans if you do not qualify for any of the other types of mortgages featured above.

These are some of the options that are available to first time home buyers.  If you would like to get pre-approved for a mortgage, we can help match you with a lender that offers first time home buyer loans in California.

Click here to get pre-approved for a mortgage

California Down Payment Assistance Programs

First time home buyers in California may be eligible for down payment assistance.  There are statewide programs, as well as an abundance of programs offered locally (at the city or county level).  You may learn about these programs below.

CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program

The California Housing Finance Agency offers up to 3.5% of the purchase price in down payment assistance.  The funds are provided as a deferred payment loan, which does not have to be paid back until you sell the home.

Requirements

  • Be a first time home buyer.
  • Occupy the home as your primary residence.
  • Complete a homebuyer education course.
  • Meet the income limits for your county.
  • Purchase a home within for less than $765,000 (the maximum sales price allowed statewide).

To learn more about this program, visit the California Housing Finance Agency website.

Regional Down Payment Assistance Programs

Below are some down payment assistance programs offered exclusively in specific cities and counties in California:

City of Alameda down payment assistance

City of Brea down payment assistance

City of Brentwood down payment assistance

Butte County down payment assistance

City of Downey down payment assistance

City of El Cajon down payment assistance

City of Fremont down payment assistance

Fresno County down payment assistance

City of Irvine down payment assistance

City of Napa down payment assistance

Napa County down payment assistance

Nevada County down payment assistance

Orange County down payment assistance

Town of Paradise down payment assistance

City of Pittsburg down payment assistance

City of Riverside down payment assistance

Riverside County down payment assistance

City of Rosemead down payment assistance

City of Santa Ana down payment assistance

City of San Diego down payment assistance

San Joaquin County down payment assistance

City of San Jose down payment assistance

City of San Marcos down payment assistance

Shasta County down payment assistance

Stanislaus County down payment assistance

Would you like some help learning about what down payment assistance programs may be available to you?  A mortgage lender can help you check your eligibility for down payment assistance. To get some expert help, request a free consultation.

Get Matched with a Mortgage Lender

A mortgage lender can help you determine what mortgage programs you may qualify for, and also check your eligibility for down payment assistance.  If you would like some help finding a mortgage lender, we can match you with a lender that offers first time home buyer loans in California.

Click here to get matched with a mortgage lender

First Time Home Buyer Questions 

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about first time home buyer loans:

How much do I need for a down payment?
The minimum down payment requirement will depend on the type of mortgage program.  USDA and VA loans do not require any down payment.  FHA loans only require a 3.5% down payment (and allow down payment assistance to be used).  Conventional loans typically require either 3% or 5% down.   The minimum down payment for a non-prime loan is usually at least 10% (or higher).

What is the maximum loan amount that I can qualify for?
The amount that you will be allowed to borrow will depend mostly on your income, as well as the particular type of loan you are interested in.  There are maximum loan limits for each type of mortgage program which are set at the county level.  Conforming loan limits are the maximum loan amounts allowed for conventional mortgages.  FHA loans have their own loan limits.  This is not necessarily how much you can borrow though, but the maximum amount allowed in your location.  The amount that you can personal qualify for will be based upon your income, and how much debt you have.  For most loans, your monthly mortgage payment, along with your monthly debts may not exceed 43% of your income.

Can I buy a home without a real estate agent?
It depends on your state and the type of loan program.  For some states, you must use an agent.  In other states, you are not required to use a real estate agent for many loan program, such as conventional mortgages.  However, some loan types require that you use a real estate agent regardless of your location, such as USDA loans.

Are there mortgage loan options for borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, both FHA loans and non-prime loans are available to borrowers with lower credit score, and other credit challenges.  The minimum credit score required for an FHA loan is 500.  For non-prime loans, there are lenders that allow a borrower to have a credit score even below 500.  Non-prime loans also do not have any waiting periods after a bankruptcy.

Can I buy a home if I owe tax debt?
For government-backed loans, such as FHA, VA, and USDA loans, you can buy a home with tax debt as long as you have made a payment plan with the IRS, and are not behind on the payments. Any federal debt must be in good standing in order to get a government-based mortgage. If your tax debts have moved into the status of a tax lien, this will prevent you from getting a home loan until it is resolved.

Can I buy a home if I have student loans?
As long as you are not delinquent on the student loan payments, and the monthly payments do not cause excessive debt-to-income ratios, you can still get a mortgage.

Can I buy a home without my spouse?
A common question is if you can buy a house without your wife or husband.  The short answer is yes. There are numerous reasons someone may want to exclude their spouse from a mortgage application, such as lower credit, lack of job history or income, or one spouse having excessive debt that could prevent an approval. You may be able to qualify and get a home loan without your spouse.

How do I find out if I qualify for a mortgage?
It is easy to find out what mortgage programs you may qualify for.  We can match you with lender that offers free consultations, and can help you get pre-approved for a mortgage.  To have a mortgage lender contact you, request to be matched with a lender.

    Get a Free Mortgage Consultation


    Minimum Down Payment Required

    Home Loan Programs Available In:

    Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.