CALHFA Down Payment Assistance Helps First Time Home Buyers in California

The California Housing Finance Agency or CALHFA provides first-time home buyers with different grants for buying a home in California. Only CALHFA lenders that are participating members of this program can offer this type of down payment assistance in California to qualifying home buyers. The CHDAP or California Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance Program provides financial assistance to those individuals who can qualify for the program.

Loan Type Select ---------------> Mortgage Refinance Cash Out Refinance Home Equity New Home Purchase Property Type Select One-----------> Single-Family Detached Condominium Cooperative Multi-Family Dwelling Modular Mobile Home Manufactured Home Property Value Select One-----------> 1st Time Buyer 75,000 - 80,000 80,000 - 85,000 85,000 - 90,000 90,000 - 95,000 95,000 - 100,000 100,000 - 105,000 105,000 - 110,000 110,000 - 115,000 115,000 - 120,000 120,000 - 125,000 125,000 - 130,000 130,000 - 135,000 135,000 - 140,000 140,000 - 145,000 145,000 - 150,000 150,000 - 155,000 155,000 - 160,000 160,000 - 165,000 165,000 - 170,000 170,000 - 175,000 175,000 - 180,000 180,000 - 185,000 185,000 - 190,000 190,000 - 195,000 195,000 - 200,000 200,000 - 205,000 205,000 - 210,000 210,000 - 215,000 215,000 - 220,000 220,000 - 225,000 225,000 - 230,000 230,000 - 235,000 235,000 - 240,000 240,000 - 245,000 245,000 - 250,000 250,000 - 255,000 255,000 - 260,000 260,000 - 265,000 265,000 - 270,000 270,000 - 275,000 275,000 - 280,000 280,000 - 285,000 285,000 - 290,000 290,000 - 295,000 295,000 - 300,000 300,000 - 305,000 305,000 - 310,000 310,000 - 315,000 315,000 - 320,000 320,000 - 325,000 325,000 - 330,000 330,000 - 335,000 335,000 - 340,000 340,000 - 345,000 345,000 - 350,000 350,000 - 355,000 355,000 - 360,000 360,000 - 365,000 365,000 - 370,000 370,000 - 375,000 375,000 - 380,000 380,000 - 385,000 385,000 - 390,000 390,000 - 395,000 395,000 - 400,000 400,000 - 405,000 405,000 - 410,000 410,000 - 415,000 415,000 - 420,000 420,000 - 425,000 425,000 - 430,000 430,000 - 435,000 435,000 - 440,000 440,000 - 445,000 445,000 - 450,000 450,000 - 455,000 455,000 - 460,000 460,000 - 465,000 465,000 - 470,000 470,000 - 475,000 475,000 - 480,000 480,000 - 485,000 485,000 - 490,000 490,000 - 495,000 495,000 - 500,000 500,000 - 505,000 505,000 - 510,000 510,000 - 515,000 515,000 - 520,000 520,000 - 525,000 525,000 - 530,000 530,000 - 535,000 535,000 - 540,000 540,000 - 545,000 545,000 - 550,000 550,000 - 555,000 555,000 - 560,000 560,000 - 565,000 565,000 - 570,000 570,000 - 575,000 575,000 - 580,000 580,000 - 585,000 585,000 - 590,000 590,000 - 595,000 595,000 - 600,000 600,000 - 605,000 605,000 - 610,000 610,000 - 615,000 615,000 - 620,000 620,000 - 625,000 625,000 - 630,000 630,000 - 635,000 635,000 - 640,000 640,000 - 645,000 645,000 - 650,000 650,000 - 655,000 655,000 - 660,000 660,000 - 665,000 665,000 - 670,000 670,000 - 675,000 675,000 - 680,000 680,000 - 685,000 685,000 - 690,000 690,000 - 695,000 695,000 - 700,000 700,000 - 705,000 705,000 - 710,000 710,000 - 715,000 715,000 - 720,000 720,000 - 725,000 725,000 - 730,000 730,000 - 735,000 735,000 - 740,000 740,000 - 745,000 745,000 - 750,000 750,000 - 755,000 755,000 - 760,000 760,000 - 765,000 765,000 - 770,000 770,000 - 775,000 775,000 - 780,000 780,000 - 785,000 785,000 - 790,000 790,000 - 795,000 795,000 - 800,000 Over 800,000 Credit Rating Select ---------------> Excellent Good Fair Poor

It's no secret that many renters are unable to meet the lending requirements of homeownership. Many potential first time buyers are unable to qualify for home financing because their credit history does not meet the 2018 standards for buying a house in California. We can connect you with CALHFA lenders that offer mortgages for new home buyers. The second reason renters choose not to participate in the house buying process is the mere fact that they are unable to save enough money for the down-payment requirements. This is why people speak so highly of CALHFA for a down-payment, assistance on first time home buying in California.

About the CHDAP Loan

The CHDAP is classified as a "junior" loan program with a deferred payment schedule. It provides individuals with funds in the amount of 3.5% of the appraised value or purchase price of the home (whichever is less). The funds can be applied to either the closing costs or the down-payment on this CALHFA loan, or if needed, can be applied to both. The funds can also be used in conjunction with other first-time mortgage loans whether they are CalHFA or non-CalHFA in nature. This type of down-payment assistance program offers California consumers the opportunity to secure truly affordable zero-down home loans.

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Eligibility Requirements for The CALHFA First-Time Homebuyer Loan

According to the 2018 CALHFA guidelines, there are certain eligibility requirements that must be met by the borrower as well as the property in question. These requirements can be found on pages 1 and 2 of the CALHFA guidelines .pdf file entitled "California Homebuyer's Down Payment Assistance Program (CHDAP)." Basically, the borrower must be a first-time home buyer and must use the property as their principal residence.

Additionally, their income must fall below the allowable limits of conventional, FHA, USDA, or VA first-time mortgage loans. As far as the property requirements are concerned, the structure must be a one-unit, single family residence and the price cannot exceed the CALHFA-established limits. Be aware that participating lenders will go with the more restrictive guidelines if there are any conflicting issues.

There are some other CALHFA Down Payment Assistance in California program property guidelines that need to be considered. For instance, if the property is a condominium, the buyer must meet any applicable first mortgage guidelines in order to qualify for assistance. Furthermore, manufactured housing does not qualify for the CALHFA program nor are co-ops, land trusts, and leaseholds permitted. Finally, the property size cannot exceed 5 acres.

This is not a "bad credit home loan" per se, but the credit and income guidelines are considered very reasonable by mortgage underwriting standards.

The San Diego Union Tribune published an article on how the down payment assistance programs work and how to obtain them through the California Housing Finance Agency. This exclusive CALHFA loan offer is unique to new home buyers in California. The CalHFA loan program extends a deferred-payment mortgage up to 3.5%, which can be used for lending fees, closing costs and of course the down-payment. Read more of the SD Union Tribune article.

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