Down Payment Help for School Staff · Updated July 2026
Work for a California school? Here is the down payment help that actually exists in 2026.
You may have heard about a CalHFA "School Program" with 4% for teachers. That program ended in 2020. Here is the good news: the help that replaced it is real and open right now. CalHFA's MyHome program lends school employees up to 3.5% of the price toward the down payment, with no monthly payment. On a $700,000 home, that is up to $24,500. This page gives you the honest picture and skips the outdated promises.
The short version
The old 4% School Program is gone. It ended in 2020. What school employees use today is MyHome: CalHFA lends you up to 3.5% of the price with an FHA loan, or 3% with a conventional loan. Use it for your down payment, closing costs, or both. There is no monthly payment. You repay it only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home.
What happened to the CalHFA School Program?
CalHFA used to run the School Teacher and Employee Assistance Program. It lent public school employees up to 4% of the price. CalHFA discontinued it on March 2, 2020. The official notice is Program Bulletin 2020-01. School employees did not lose access to help. They moved to the standard MyHome program like every other first-time buyer.
Plenty of websites still advertise the 4% program in 2026. That is six years out of date. If a lender promises you 4% from CalHFA today, ask them for the program bulletin. We would rather tell you the smaller true number than the bigger dead one.
What school employees actually get in 2026
MyHome is a second loan behind your main mortgage. Lenders call it a "silent second": no monthly bill, nothing due until you sell, refinance, or pay off the home. Here is what it looks like at typical Southern California prices:
| Purchase price | MyHome @ 3.5% (FHA) | MyHome @ 3% (conventional) |
|---|---|---|
| $600,000 | $21,000 | $18,000 |
| $700,000 | $24,500 | $21,000 |
| $850,000 | $29,750 | $25,500 |
FHA's minimum down payment is 3.5%. MyHome lends up to 3.5%. So the assistance can cover the entire minimum down payment. Your remaining cash need is mostly closing costs. That is where ZIP, CalHFA's 0% closing-cost loan, and money the seller chips in can help. One more thing worth knowing: MyHome has no employer requirement. Public school, charter school, private school, or any other job, the program works the same. The rules that matter are income, credit, and first-time buyer status.
Why school paychecks deserve a specialist anyway
The extra program for school staff is gone. The extra homework on school files is not. School pay is different, and a loan file that reads it wrong can understate your income:
- 10-month versus 12-month pay. Many districts pay over 10 or 11 months. Spread that correctly and your qualifying monthly income comes out right. Read it lazily and it comes out low.
- Stipends and extra-duty pay. Coaching, summer school, department leads, night classes. With the right history, that income can count.
- Step-and-column raises. District salary schedules are public and predictable. That helps a file that sits close to a qualifying line.
- Second jobs and tutoring. Common for school staff, and countable when documented right.
This is where we spend our time: reading district pay the way underwriting needs to see it, then pairing it with the CalHFA stack that fits.
Eligibility checklist (same MyHome rules as everyone)
- First-time homebuyer. You have not owned and lived in a home in the last 3 years.
- CalHFA main mortgage. MyHome pairs with a CalHFA FHA or CalHFA conventional loan. It cannot attach to just any lender's mortgage.
- Income under the county limit. Household income must fit CalHFA's 2026 limits. See the table below.
- Credit guidelines. Per CalHFA's 2026 matrices, FHA pairings generally start at 640 and conventional at 680. Some scenarios require 660. The loan review of your full file makes the final call.
- Homebuyer education. One borrower completes an approved course and gets a certificate before closing.
- A home you'll actually live in. Single-family homes, condos, and townhomes qualify.
Only the household matters, not the employer. Your spouse or co-borrower can work anywhere. The income limits simply apply to the whole household. Not all applicants will qualify; final eligibility follows CalHFA guidelines and the review of your complete file.
2026 income limits
These are CalHFA's household income limits effective June 30, 2026. They run higher than most people guess. A two-income household, say a teacher married to a nurse, often still fits:
| County | 2026 income limit |
|---|---|
| Orange | $274,000 |
| San Diego | $259,000 |
| Los Angeles | $214,000 |
| Riverside | $210,000 |
| San Bernardino | $210,000 |
See all 2026 income limits for other counties.
School districts we serve
We work with school employees across Southern California. That includes San Diego Unified, Sweetwater Union High School District, Poway Unified, and Chula Vista Elementary. All are in San Diego County. It also includes Santa Ana Unified in Orange County and Los Angeles Unified. That is the nation's second-largest district. Charter and private school staff are welcome too. We know the prices and homes in the neighborhoods where district staff actually buy. Start with your area: San Diego, Chula Vista, Orange County, Los Angeles, or the Inland Empire.
Teachers & school employees FAQ
Does CalHFA still have a School Program with 4% for teachers?
No. CalHFA discontinued the School Teacher and Employee Assistance Program on March 2, 2020. The official notice is Program Bulletin 2020-01. School employees now use the standard MyHome program: up to 3.5% of the price with a CalHFA FHA loan, or up to 3% with a conventional loan, with no monthly payment.
What down payment help can California teachers get in 2026?
The main statewide option is MyHome. It lends up to 3.5% of the price toward your down payment or closing costs as a second loan with no monthly payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home. Standard first-time buyer, income, and credit rules apply. Not all applicants will qualify.
Am I eligible as classified staff, or at a private school?
Yes. MyHome has no employer requirement at all. Teachers, aides, custodians, office staff, bus drivers, and private school employees all use the same program. The rules that matter are first-time buyer status, county income limits, credit guidelines, and living in the home.
Can my spouse co-borrow if they don't work for a school?
Yes. MyHome does not check where either borrower works. CalHFA income limits apply to the whole household file. For 2026 that means $259,000 in San Diego County and $274,000 in Orange County. It also means $214,000 in Los Angeles County and $210,000 in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
What credit score do I need?
Per CalHFA's 2026 program matrices, FHA pairings generally start at a 640 credit score, and conventional pairings generally start at 680. Some scenarios, such as manual underwriting or manufactured homes, require 660. The final call rests on your full file: income, debts, and the loan review. Not all applicants will qualify.
Program details summarized from calhfa.ca.gov as of July 2026. CalHFA sets and may change all program terms, including income limits and assistance percentages. Home prices shown are approximate market figures for illustration. This page is educational and not a loan commitment; not all applicants will qualify.
Find out what your school paycheck qualifies for.
One short quiz. About 60 seconds. No credit pull, no documents, no obligation. Tell us your district, price range, and income. We map whether MyHome, a ZIP stack, or another route puts you in a home fastest.