Down payment assistance in LA, explained
California and Los Angeles County put real money toward first-time buyers, and condos are eligible for most of it. Here's what the main programs do, who they're for, and how they fit together.
Figures below are summaries as of September 2026. Programs change their terms, income limits, and funding regularly. Eligibility is determined by the administering agency and your lender.
First, what "first-time buyer" means
For most of these programs it does not mean "never owned." It means you haven't held an ownership interest in a home in the past three years. If you owned something years ago, or your co-buyer did, you may still qualify.
The main programs
| Program | What it gives | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|
| CalHFA MyHome Assistance | Deferred-payment junior loan for down payment or closing costs: up to 3% of the price or appraised value with a conventional CalHFA first mortgage, or 3.5% with FHA. No monthly payment; repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first loan. | First-time buyer, owner-occupant, income under CalHFA's county limit, CalHFA first mortgage through an approved lender, homebuyer education course. |
| LA County Home Ownership Program (HOP), run by LACDA | Second mortgage up to $100,000 or 20% of the purchase price, whichever is less, for down payment and closing costs. Two tiers: HOP80 (households under 80% of area median income) and HOP150 (under 150%). | First-time buyer, primary residence, at least 1% of your own funds, 8-hour HUD-approved education, purchase price caps ($700,000 for HOP80, $850,000 for HOP150), property in LA County (some cities run their own programs instead). Condos, townhomes, and single-family homes qualify. First-come, first-served through participating lenders. |
| CalHFA Dream For All | Shared-appreciation loan up to 20% of the price. No monthly payment; when you sell or refinance you repay the original amount plus a share of the appreciation. | First-generation buyer (your parents didn't own), first-time buyer, income under the county limit (about $168,000 in LA County for the 2026 round), pre-approval from a CalHFA lender, and selection in a lottery during a short application window. The 2026 window ran February 24 to March 16 and is closed. |
City programs
Some cities inside LA County, including the City of Los Angeles, run their own first-time buyer assistance rather than participating in the county's program. Availability and funding vary year to year. Tell us where you're looking and we'll check what's open for that address.
How programs stack
Most assistance is structured as a junior loan behind a standard first mortgage. That means:
- Your first mortgage is a normal conventional or FHA loan, often through CalHFA.
- The assistance sits in second (or third) position and typically has no monthly payment.
- Some programs can be combined (MyHome with a CalHFA first, for example). Others can't be layered together. Your lender confirms what's allowed.
- Bank-statement and other non-QM loans generally can't be paired with these programs, which matters for self-employed buyers. If your tax returns support a conventional or FHA loan, assistance is on the table; if you need a bank-statement loan, it usually isn't.
What they cost you later
"No monthly payment" isn't "free." Deferred loans are repaid when you sell or refinance. Shared-appreciation loans take a percentage of your gain. That's often still a good deal because it gets you into ownership years earlier, but you should know the exit terms before you sign.
Steps to take
- Confirm you meet the three-year first-time buyer definition.
- Add up household income the way the programs do (everyone over 18 who will live in the home, in most cases) and compare it to the limit for your household size.
- Get pre-approved with a lender who is approved for CalHFA and the county program. Not every lender is.
- Complete the homebuyer education course early; it's required and takes a few hours online.
- Shop with the program's price caps and property rules in mind. We'll filter listings accordingly.
Where we come in. We track which programs are funded and open, connect you with participating lenders, and search for condos that fit the program rules. Tell us your situation and we'll tell you what may apply.
This guide is general education, not lending, tax, or legal advice. Real is a licensed real estate brokerage and does not administer any assistance program. Official program details: calhfa.ca.gov and lacda.org.