Down-payment assistance depends on the program, borrower, property address and available funding. A program mentioned in an older article may no longer accept applications. Check the administering agency and a participating lender before building assistance into your offer.
Correction — September 7, 2026: This article previously listed programs without adequate current availability checks, including the CalHFA ADU Grant and an older teacher-assistance program. Those recommendations have been replaced with the dated status checks below.
Programs and status checks
| Program | What the official source says | What to verify next |
|---|---|---|
| CalHFA MyHome | Deferred-payment junior assistance paired with eligible CalHFA financing. The agency describes up to 3.5% for its FHA route and up to 3% for its conventional route, calculated using the lesser of purchase price or appraised value. | Current income/property requirements, loan terms and lender eligibility. MyHome |
| LACDA HOP80 / HOP150 | The agency describes second-mortgage assistance with deferred repayment and shared equity. Properties must meet its participating-area rules. | The exact address, income limits, purchase-price cap, available funds and participating lender. HOP |
| CalHFA ADU Grant | CalHFA's current directory says all funding was reserved as of December 28, 2023; its retained materials serve existing pipeline applications. | Do not count this as available assistance for a new application unless CalHFA announces new funding. Program directory |
Status and source pages checked September 7, 2026. A listing on this page does not confirm approval or reserve funds.
LA County does not mean every LA County address
LACDA's HOP page limits properties to unincorporated Los Angeles County or participating cities. Santa Clarita is not named in the participating-city list reviewed for this update. Have LACDA or a participating lender confirm the exact property address; do not infer eligibility from a mailing-city label or county name. HOP property-area requirements.
Ask how the assistance is repaid
CalHFA calls MyHome a deferred-payment junior loan. LACDA describes HOP's deferred repayment and shared-equity terms. These are not interchangeable with an unrestricted gift. Ask the lender to show what happens on sale, refinancing, title changes or changes in occupancy under the specific program documents. MyHome terms, HOP terms.
Prepare a written comparison
Ask a participating lender for an illustration showing the first mortgage, assistance loan, total monthly payment, cash needed to close, fees and repayment obligations. Compare it with an option that does not use the assistance. Then ask which education, documentation and reservation steps must be completed before making an offer.
CalHFA uses approved private lenders rather than lending directly to consumers. Its MyHome page provides a loan-officer finder and current borrower requirements. CalHFA application guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I assume a listed program has funds for me?
No. Confirm current application status and reservation requirements with the agency and lender.
Can I combine two programs?
Ask the lenders and administering agencies to confirm that exact combination in writing. This guide does not promise that any combination is allowed.
Where should I start?
Gather your questions and speak with a participating lender before counting assistance toward a purchase. Use our buyer's guide to plan the broader process, or contact Rose District to organize your home-search next steps.