CalHFA in San Diego · Updated July 2026
San Diego down payment help: up to $22,750 toward your first home.
Houses here run around $1 million. The condo market is a different story. Most of it sits in CalHFA range. The state can lend your whole down payment, with no monthly bill. And the income limit is $259,000, higher than most people guess.
San Diego condos are the real entry point
The headline number scares people off. A detached San Diego home runs roughly $1 million in mid-2026. That feels out of reach on a normal paycheck. But condos and townhomes trade between roughly $550,000 and $750,000 here. And there are a lot of them.
First-time buyers land in these four spots again and again:
- Mission Valley: newer mid-rise buildings near the trolley line and Snapdragon Stadium. Central to everything.
- North Park: smaller, older complexes in one of the city's most walkable areas. You trade space for lifestyle.
- Rancho Bernardo: townhomes with garages and highly rated schools. Popular with buyers planning a family.
- Clairemont: 1970s condos priced under the coast. Fifteen minutes from almost anywhere.
At those prices, the MyHome Assistance Program does real work. It is a second loan that waits quietly. No monthly bill. It is worth up to 3.5% of the price with an FHA main mortgage, or 3% with conventional:
| San Diego scenario | MyHome @ 3.5% (FHA) | MyHome @ 3% (conventional) |
|---|---|---|
| $650,000 Mission Valley condo | $22,750 | $19,500 |
| $900,000 Clairemont single-family | $31,500 | $27,000 |
FHA asks for 3.5% down. MyHome can lend that same 3.5%. So that $22,750 can cover the whole required down payment on the $650,000 condo. Closing costs remain. The ZIP program helps there. It lends roughly 2-3% of the main mortgage at 0% interest. Nothing is due until you sell, refinance, or pay off the home. ZIP stacks on top of MyHome.
The San Diego income limit is $259,000. Yes, really.
San Diego County's 2026 CalHFA income limit is $259,000 per household. Now think about what people here really earn. A nurse married to a firefighter fits under it. So do two mid-career engineers. The limit runs high because this county costs a lot. CalHFA serves buyers who earn solid money but could not save fast enough. Rent ate the down payment fund.
Limits are set by county and verified during approval. Check the 2026 income limits instead of guessing. Dream For All is a separate program. It lends first-generation buyers up to 20% of the price. The state shares in the home's growth when you sell. Its San Diego cap is lower, $207,000, and it only opens in limited voucher rounds. When a round lands, applicants with paperwork ready do very well.
Military San Diego: two good paths, one decision
San Diego is full of active duty and veteran buyers. Half our local calls start with the same question. I have VA eligibility, do I even need CalHFA? Fair question. A VA loan requires 0% down. That usually beats anything an assistance program can add. MyHome can ride along with a VA loan, but that pairing is capped at $15,000. It usually goes toward closing costs, not the down payment.
So the real matchup is VA with nothing down versus CalHFA FHA with MyHome covering the 3.5%. What decides it? The rate, the VA's one-time funding fee, and your cash on hand. Mortgage insurance matters too (a monthly fee that protects the lender). We run both scenarios side by side in one sitting.
Renting in 92108 while "saving up"?
At San Diego rents, most households cannot out-save the market. MyHome hands you the down payment today, with no monthly bill. That is how buyers here stop losing the race.
San Diego CalHFA FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get on a San Diego condo?
With a CalHFA FHA main mortgage, MyHome lends up to 3.5% of the purchase price. On a $650,000 condo, that is about $22,750. There is no monthly payment on it. Nothing is due until you sell, refinance, or pay off the home. With a CalHFA conventional loan the figure is 3%, or about $19,500 at that price.
What is the CalHFA income limit for San Diego in 2026?
The 2026 MyHome income limit for San Diego County is $259,000 in household income. Dream For All uses a lower limit of $207,000. Many two-income San Diego households assume they earn too much. Most are wrong. Check before you rule yourself out.
Can military buyers in San Diego use CalHFA programs?
Yes. Many active duty and veteran buyers use a VA loan with 0% down instead. It usually needs less cash than any assistance program can replace. MyHome can pair with a VA loan, but it is capped at $15,000 in that combo. So we compare both paths side by side.
Does CalHFA work on homes priced near $1 million in San Diego?
Often, yes. CalHFA follows the standard FHA and conventional loan size limits. San Diego County's FHA limit tops $1 million in 2026. A $900,000 purchase with a CalHFA FHA loan could get roughly $31,500 from MyHome at 3.5%.
Comparing nearby markets?
Want lower prices? Head south to Chula Vista or National City. The same programs meet smaller price tags there. Heading east, El Cajon has some of the county's cheapest condos. Or tell us your numbers and we will map the options for you.
Home prices above are approximate market estimates as of mid-2026 and change monthly. Program figures summarized from calhfa.ca.gov as of July 2026. This page is educational only and is not a loan commitment.
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