Buy your first home in California with as little as $0 out of pocket.
California will cover up to 3.5% of your purchase price toward the down payment — with no monthly payment on the assistance. Most buyers never hear about it, because most lenders can't offer it. We guide buyers through it every day.
No credit pull. No obligation. Takes about 60 seconds.
Official State-Backed Programs
The down payment help most buyers never hear about
California runs official state programs that put real money toward everyday buyers' first homes. These aren't gimmicks — they're official state programs. You just need a guide who actually knows how to use them. That's us.
MyHome Assistance
What the industry calls a "silent second" — a loan with no monthly bill that waits quietly until you sell. It covers up to 3.5% of your purchase price (FHA) or 3% (conventional) for the down payment or closing costs. You repay it only when you sell or refinance.
Explore MyHomeSchool Program
Work at a California K-12 public school? Teachers, admins, aides and staff can receive up to 4% of the purchase price — even more than MyHome — as a loan with no monthly payment. Nothing is due until you sell, refinance, or pay the home off.
Explore the School ProgramCalPLUS + ZIP
A state-program main mortgage paired with the Zero Interest Program: an extra 2–3% of the loan amount at 0% interest for closing costs, stacked on top of MyHome down payment help.
See how it stacksReal numbers, real homes
That's what state assistance can cover on a $900,000 San Diego home — roughly your entire minimum down payment, with no monthly cost and nothing due until you sell or refinance.
From renting to keys in hand
A clear, guided process — most buyers are pre-approved within 24–48 hours.
Check eligibility
Answer a few questions about income, credit and goals. 60 seconds, no credit pull.
Get your game plan
We match you to the right CalHFA program mix and get you pre-approved.
Shop with confidence
House-hunt with a solid pre-approval letter that sellers take seriously.
Close & move in
Your assistance funds arrive at closing. You get the keys — and keep your savings.
2026 income limits · effective June 30, 2026
Yes — you can earn six figures and still qualify
The limits are based on where you buy, not a poverty line. Most dual-income households in California are under the cap.
| County | 2026 Program Income Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego County | $259,000 | Applies to FHA & conventional programs |
| Orange County | $274,000 | The highest limit in Southern California |
| Los Angeles County | $214,000 | Condo strategy matters — we'll show you |
| Riverside & San Bernardino | $210,000 | Temecula, Corona, Fontana & more |
| All other counties | Varies | Limits update every year — ask us |
Local expertise
San Diego roots. Statewide reach.
Every city has different price points, condo inventory and strategy. We know which neighborhoods actually work for CalHFA buyers — across Southern California and beyond.
San Diego
Condos & townhomes citywide
Chula Vista
South Bay's best value
Oceanside
Coastal living, attainable prices
Escondido
North County single-family homes
El Cajon
East County affordability
Vista
First-time buyer favorite
National City
SD County's entry point
Temecula & Murrieta
More home for the money
Orange County
A $274,000 income limit
Los Angeles
Strategy-first buying
Inland Empire
SoCal's best first-home math
All of California
CalHFA works statewide — so do we
Why buyers come to us instead of their bank
Most lenders don't offer these programs. We do — it's what we specialize in. Every eligibility check is personally reviewed by Marvin Younan (NMLS #1544003) and the Simpler Home Loans team, and you get a straight answer the same business day: which programs fit, what you'd need, and what it costs. No call centers, no runaround.
Buyers who thought they couldn't
The most common thing we hear: "I wish someone had told us about this sooner."
"We were told we needed $60,000 saved to buy in Chula Vista. We closed with less than $8,000 total out of pocket thanks to state assistance. Unreal."
"Three lenders told us we didn't qualify for anything. One conversation here and we found out we were under the income limit the whole time."
"The eligibility quiz took a minute. The pre-approval took a day. We were in our El Cajon townhome in six weeks."
Quick answers
The questions every first-time buyer asks — answered straight.
Do I really pay nothing monthly on the down payment assistance?
Correct — MyHome is a second, no-monthly-payment loan. A small amount of interest adds up slowly in the background — it never compounds — but there's no monthly bill. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off your main mortgage. Your monthly budget only carries the main mortgage.
What credit score do I need?
Most of these programs look for a mid-600s score or better, and requirements vary by loan type and scenario. If you're not there yet, we'll give you a concrete plan to get there — that costs nothing.
I earn over $150K. Am I "too rich" for this?
Almost certainly not. The 2026 program income limit for San Diego County is $259,000 per household. These programs were built for exactly the teachers, nurses, military families and tech workers who feel priced out of Southern California.
What counts as a "first-time buyer"?
Anyone who hasn't owned and occupied a home in the last three years. Owned a home years ago? Owned a rental but never lived in it? You may still count as first-time.
Is this site affiliated with CalHFA or the government?
No. We are an independent, licensed mortgage professional who arranges CalHFA loan programs through the CalHFA-approved lender network. Program details come from calhfa.ca.gov and change periodically.
Your down payment might already be waiting for you.
60 seconds. No credit pull. Find out exactly which programs fit your situation — before this year's funds run out.