CalHFA Loan Programs · Updated July 2026
Five ways California helps you buy. Here's how they compare.
CalHFA isn't one program — it's a toolkit. A main mortgage, a down payment loan, a closing-cost loan, and (for a lucky few) a 20% boost you repay later with a slice of your home's growth. This page puts them side by side so you can see how San Diego buyers actually combine them in 2026.
MyHome Assistance
Up to 3.5% of your purchase price for your down payment or closing costs — what the industry calls a "silent second": a loan with no monthly bill that waits quietly until you sell, refinance, or pay off the home.
How MyHome worksDream For All
Up to 20% of the purchase price for first-generation, first-time buyers — repaid later with a share of your home's growth in value. Powerful, but voucher rounds are scarce, and 2026 is expected to be the final year.
Dream For All detailsCalHFA FHA Loan
A 30-year fixed FHA main mortgage with 3.5% down — which MyHome can cover entirely. Credit requirements are the most forgiving, generally mid-600s.
Explore CalHFA FHACalHFA Conventional
A 30-year fixed conventional main mortgage with just 3% down. Its mortgage insurance (a monthly fee that protects the lender) goes away once you own 20% of your home — unlike FHA's.
Explore CalHFA ConventionalCalPLUS + ZIP
The Zero Interest Program adds a 0% loan of roughly 2–3% of your main loan amount for closing costs — nothing is due until you sell, refinance, or pay the home off. Per CalHFA Bulletin 2025-04, ZIP now pairs with MyHome.
See how ZIP stacks2026 Income Limits
Every CalHFA program has a county income cap — $259,000 in San Diego County for 2026. Higher than most people expect. Check yours before ruling yourself out.
See 2026 limitsEvery CalHFA program, one table
Here's the master comparison. The first two rows are assistance programs that ride along with your mortgage; the last two rows are the CalHFA main mortgages they attach to.
| Program | What you get | Repayment | Availability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyHome | Up to 3.5% of purchase price (FHA) or 3% (conventional) for down payment/closing costs | No monthly payment — a small amount of interest adds up slowly in the background (it never compounds); you repay when you sell, refinance or pay the home off | Continuously funded | Most first-time buyers |
| CalPLUS + ZIP | 0% interest loan of roughly 2–3% of the main loan amount for closing costs | No monthly payment, 0% interest; repaid when you sell, refinance or pay the home off | Continuously funded; must pair with MyHome | Buyers short on closing-cost cash |
| Dream For All | Up to 20% of purchase price — repaid later with a share of your home's growth in value | What you borrowed plus a share of your home's rise in value, when you sell or refinance | Limited voucher rounds; 2026 portal closed March 16; wind-down expected by end of 2026 | First-generation buyers who secure a voucher |
| CalHFA FHA | 30-year fixed main mortgage, 3.5% minimum down | Normal monthly mortgage payment | Ongoing | Mid-600s credit, thinner savings |
| CalHFA Conventional | 30-year fixed main mortgage, 3% minimum down, mortgage insurance you can cancel later | Normal monthly mortgage payment | Ongoing | Stronger credit scores |
All programs require income under the CalHFA county limit — $259,000 in San Diego County for 2026 — a first-time buyer (no ownership in the last 3 years), a home you'll actually live in, and a homebuyer education certificate. Dream For All adds a first-generation requirement and uses lower income limits.
How the programs stack: a $700,000 Chula Vista example
The real magic isn't any single program — it's the stack. Say you're buying a $700,000 townhome in Chula Vista with a CalHFA FHA main mortgage. Here's how the layers land:
| Layer | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CalHFA FHA main mortgage | ≈ $675,500 | The home itself — 30-year fixed, normal monthly payment |
| MyHome @ 3.5% | $24,500 | The entire FHA minimum down payment — no monthly payment on this |
| ZIP @ 2–3% of main loan | ≈ $13,500–$20,300 | Closing costs — 0% interest, no monthly payment |
Between MyHome and ZIP, that's roughly $38,000 to $44,800 of help with no monthly payments on a single purchase — none of it due until you sell, refinance, or pay the home off. What's left for you to cover typically shrinks to your good-faith deposit, inspection and appraisal fees, and upfront items like taxes and insurance the assistance doesn't reach — often a few thousand dollars instead of forty-plus. Run your own scenario with our calculators, or see the full walkthrough on the MyHome page.
Why the stack matters in San Diego
Saving $40,000+ while paying San Diego rent takes most households years — and prices rarely wait. Stacking CalHFA layers compresses those years into a single purchase. That's the entire point of these programs.
Which door should you walk through first?
- You have decent credit and modest savings: start with CalHFA FHA + MyHome. It's the widest door — mid-600s credit, and MyHome covers the full 3.5% down.
- You have strong credit (roughly 700+): compare CalHFA conventional + MyHome. Its mortgage insurance can be canceled once you own 20% of your home — FHA's generally can't.
- You're a first-generation buyer: check Dream For All status — but don't wait on it. Voucher rounds are scarce and the program is expected to wind down by the end of 2026.
- You're short on cash for closing costs: ask about CalPLUS with ZIP on top of MyHome.
- Not sure? That's the normal case. A 10-minute eligibility check sorts it.
CalHFA programs FAQ
Can I combine CalHFA programs like MyHome and ZIP?
Yes — combining them is the whole design. A CalHFA main mortgage (FHA or conventional) pairs with MyHome for the down payment, and a CalPLUS main mortgage adds the ZIP zero-interest loan for closing costs. Per CalHFA Bulletin 2025-04, ZIP must now be used together with MyHome.
Which CalHFA program is best for a first-time buyer in San Diego?
For most buyers, the reliable path is a CalHFA FHA or conventional main mortgage paired with MyHome — it's continuously funded and available right now. Dream For All offers more assistance (up to 20%) but is limited to first-generation buyers who secure a voucher in scarce lottery rounds. A quick eligibility review tells you which fits your credit, income and timeline.
Do all CalHFA programs have income limits?
Yes. For 2026, the standard CalHFA limit is $259,000 in San Diego County and $210,000 in Riverside County; other counties vary. Dream For All uses lower limits — $207,000 in San Diego and $164,000 in Riverside for 2026.
Is Dream For All still available in 2026?
The 2026 application portal closed on March 16, 2026, and vouchers were released starting May 20, 2026. Roughly $300 million was added in the 2025–26 state budget, but the program is expected to wind down by the end of 2026. If you don't hold a voucher, MyHome is the dependable alternative available today.
Program details summarized from calhfa.ca.gov as of July 2026. CalHFA sets and may change all program terms; this page is educational and not a loan commitment.
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