CalHFA Loan Programs · Updated July 2026
Five CalHFA programs that help you buy. Stacked right, the help can pass $38,000.
CalHFA hands you a set of tools. You get a main mortgage, plus loans for the down payment and closing costs. A lucky few can add a 20% boost they repay from their home's growth. One $700,000 example below stacks about $38,000 to $44,800 in help. This page puts every program side by side, the way San Diego buyers combine them in 2026. Want the full California picture, city by city? Read the complete first-time buyer guide.
MyHome Assistance
Up to 3.5% of your purchase price for your down payment or closing costs. On a $900,000 home, that is up to $31,500. It is a second loan with no monthly bill. It waits 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. You repay it later, plus a share of your home's growth in value. Powerful, but voucher rounds are rare. 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. MyHome can cover that whole down payment. Credit rules are the most forgiving here, 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. FHA's does not.
Explore CalHFA ConventionalCalPLUS + ZIP
The Zero Interest Program adds a 0% loan for closing costs. It runs roughly 2-3% of your main loan amount. 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. For 2026 it is $259,000 in San Diego County. That is higher than most people expect. Check yours before you rule yourself out.
See 2026 limitsEvery CalHFA program, one table
This is the master table. The first three rows are assistance programs. They 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 builds slowly and 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. The 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 |
Every program checks the same basics. Your income must sit under the CalHFA county limit: $259,000 in San Diego County for 2026. You count as first-time if you have not owned a home in the last 3 years. You must live in the home. You also finish a homebuyer education class. Dream For All adds a first-generation rule and uses lower income limits.
How the programs stack: a $700,000 Chula Vista example
The stack is where the magic happens. Say you buy a $700,000 townhome in Chula Vista with a CalHFA FHA main mortgage. The layers land like this:
| Layer | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CalHFA FHA main mortgage | ≈ $675,500 | The home itself. 30-year fixed with a 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 to $20,300 | Closing costs. 0% interest, no monthly payment |
Between MyHome and ZIP, that is roughly $38,000 to $44,800 of help with no monthly payments on one purchase. None of it is due until you sell, refinance, or pay the home off. Your own cash need shrinks fast. What is left is usually your deposit, inspection and appraisal fees, and upfront items like taxes and insurance. That often means a few thousand dollars instead of forty-plus. Run your own numbers with our calculators, or see the full walkthrough on the MyHome page.
Why the stack matters in San Diego
Saving $40,000 or more while paying San Diego rent takes most households years. Prices rarely wait that long. The CalHFA stack turns those years into one purchase. That is the whole point of these programs.
Which door should you walk through first?
- You have decent credit and modest savings: start with CalHFA FHA + MyHome. It is the widest door. Credit can be mid-600s, 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 cannot.
- You're a first-generation buyer: check Dream For All status, but do not wait on it. Voucher rounds are rare. 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 is the normal case. Our eligibility check takes about 60 seconds and sorts it. No credit pull, no documents, no obligation.
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. 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 is funded year round and open right now. Dream For All offers more help, up to 20%. But it is limited to first-generation buyers who win a voucher in rare lottery rounds. A quick eligibility check shows 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. Vouchers were released starting May 20, 2026. Roughly $300 million was added in the 2025-26 state budget. Even so, the program is expected to wind down by the end of 2026. If you do not hold a voucher, MyHome is the dependable choice open 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.
Stop comparing. See what fits you.
One short quiz. About 60 seconds. No credit pull, no documents, no obligation. You get a plan: which main mortgage, which layers of help, and what you would really pay out of pocket.