Davis · First-Time Buyers
First-Time Home Buyers in Davis: Market Homes, City Program Homes and Your Loan
See the real monthly payment on a home before you fall for it, from a team that knows lending inside and out.
First-Time Home Buyers in Davis Have Two Paths
First-time home buyers in Davis can buy a market-rate home like anyone else. Some can also buy a below-market home through the City of Davis Affordable Homeownership Program. The two paths work very differently, and knowing which one fits you saves months.
What you want is a first home you can afford, in a town where homes rarely sit. You also want to understand every step before you sign. "I don't know where to start" is a fair place to begin.
Plan My First Home in Davis
Why Davis First-Time Buyers Choose Surroundings
Maggie B. Hopkins is the broker at Surroundings and also a mortgage broker. A first purchase has two big pieces, the house and the loan, and we put them on one plan with one team. As a mortgage broker, Maggie shops your loan across a network of approved lenders and walks you through the programs you qualify for. Explore options. Don't limit yourself to the first answer one bank gives you. You can use any lender you choose.
What we cover with first-time buyers:
- Your real budget. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey put the median monthly cost for Davis owners with a mortgage at $3,350. We build your number from your income, your debts and your cash.
- Down payment and closing costs. We compare loan programs side by side so you see the cash needed for each.
- The City program, if it fits. We help you read the deed restrictions before you commit to them.
Our first-time buyers page covers the basics in plain words.
Our First-Time Buyer Process in Davis
- A first conversation. We learn your goals, your timeline and how you want to live, with no pressure to buy.
- Pre-approval. We shop your loan, issue a pre-approval and show you the payment at several prices.
- Pick your path. Market-rate search, the City's program or both. If you apply to the program, you still need full lender approval when your turn comes.
- Buyer agreement. A written agreement states how we are paid, an amount set by agreement with you.
- Offer, inspection and escrow. We explain each document and deadline before you sign it.
Our free buyer guide walks through the same steps at your own pace.
Local Context: Davis's Affordable Homeownership Program
Who qualifies. The City says the program is for first-time buyers whose household income does not exceed 120% of Yolo County Area Median Income. Under the 2026 limits on the City's page, that cap is $163,100 for a household of four. Households with more than $250,000 in assets are disqualified, and monthly housing costs cannot exceed 35% of gross monthly income under Davis Municipal Code Section 18.05.020.
What you agree to. Owners must live in the home as their primary residence. The resale price is capped at 3.75% appreciation a year, compounded from the purchase date, with Southfield Park the one exception at 5.5%. A fee of 1% of the sales price is due at closing when you sell. The City states plainly that owners may build less equity than with a market-rate home.
Harvest Glen. Century Communities is building 12 affordable three-bedroom, two-bath homes at Harvest Glen on East 8th Street, expected between September 2026 and May 2027. The City's interest list closes at 4:00 p.m. on December 2, 2026, and a public lottery on December 19, 2026 sets the order of the list.
No money from the City. The program does not provide a mortgage or down payment help. Buyers arrange their own financing with any lender they choose, which is where we come in.
The market-rate path. The middle half of Davis sales ran $646,000 to $1,046,500 in Resideline's six months ending October 3, 2026. Compare entry prices on our pages for first-time buyers in Sacramento and first-time buyers in Elk Grove.
What a First Home in Davis Costs Each Month
The sticker price is only part of the cost. The City's own program page reminds buyers to plan for the mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance and any homeowner association dues. Those are the same costs on a market-rate home.
The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey put the median monthly cost for Davis owners with a mortgage at $3,350, and $926 for owners without one. Your number will differ, because it depends on your price, your down payment and your loan program. We show your payment at three or four price points so you can see where comfortable ends and stretched begins.
The City also points first-time buyers to free help. Its page lists NeighborWorks for pre-purchase counseling and down payment assistance programs, and Echo Housing for a free homebuyer education class. Many loan programs ask for a class like that, so taking one early saves time.
Two habits help first-time buyers in Davis most. Get pre-approved before you look, and keep your credit and job steady until escrow closes.
Take the First Step as a First-Time Home Buyer in Davis
First-time home buyers in Davis do best with a plan before the search. Start with a pre-approval and a clear look at both paths. Contact us to set up your first-time buyer call, and bring your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Davis have a first-time home buyer program?
Yes. The City of Davis Affordable Homeownership Program sells deed-restricted homes below market to income- and asset-qualified first-time buyers. Income may not exceed 120% of Yolo County Area Median Income, and the program does not provide down payment help.
How do I get one of the Harvest Glen affordable homes?
Email the City to join the Harvest Glen interest list by 4:00 p.m. on December 2, 2026. A public lottery on December 19, 2026 sets the order of the list, and you still need full lender approval when your turn comes.
Can I sell a City of Davis affordable home for market price later?
No. The resale price is capped at 3.75% annual appreciation, compounded, with a 5.5% cap at Southfield Park, and the City manages the resale to eligible buyers from its waitlist. A 1% fee is due at closing.
Can I use any lender with the Davis affordable program?
Yes. The City's page says buyers may work with any lender of their choice. We are a mortgage broker, so we can shop the loan for you and you can compare.
Loans are arranged by Maggie B. Hopkins, NMLS #349517, at Surroundings · DRE #02220140 · NMLS #2528307. All loans are subject to credit approval and underwriting, and this page is not a commitment to lend.
Davis
What first-time buyers looks like in Davis
The university town west of Sacramento: bike paths, the Farmers Market and UC Davis.
Davis is a university city in Yolo County, about 15 miles west of Sacramento on Interstate 80, home to UC Davis.
First-Time Buyers: keep exploring
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