Are There Down Payment Programs for First-Time Buyers in Sacramento?

Saving for a down payment in Sacramento can feel like chasing a moving target. So when first-time buyers hear there are programs that help, the next question is always the same: which ones can I use right now?

That answer changes. Programs open, run out of money and reopen. At Surroundings, a real estate and lending brokerage, we check what is open before we build a buyer's plan around it. Here is what we found when we checked in October 2026.

MyHome is a down payment and closing cost loan from the California Housing Finance Agency. CalHFA describes it as a deferred-payment junior loan, which means a second loan with no monthly payment while you own the home.

CalHFA's MyHome page lists the amount as up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value with an FHA first loan, or up to 3% with a conventional first loan. Buyers must be first-time homebuyers, meet CalHFA income limits, and complete homebuyer education with a certificate. You apply through a CalHFA-approved lender, not through CalHFA itself.

The page said nothing about funding running out when we checked in October 2026. Confirm with the lender at application, because terms can change.

It is not open to new applicants as of October 2026. CalHFA's Dream For All page says the application period is closed, and that the portal closed on March 16, 2026.

Dream For All runs in funding rounds. If a new round opens, CalHFA announces it on that page, so check there before you plan on it.

SHRA, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, lists homebuyer programs on its website, but the one we checked was not funded. SHRA's homebuyer programs page says CalHome first-time buyer funding has been depleted for both the City and County of Sacramento since March 8, 2017.

SHRA lists its Homeownership Services line as (916) 440-1393. A call there is the surest way to learn whether any local program is taking applications for the area where you want to buy.

You may still need less cash than you think. HUD allows FHA loans with 3.5% down for borrowers with credit scores of 580 or higher, and gifts from family can count toward the down payment when they are documented the way the lender requires.

Eligible veterans and service members may be able to buy with no down payment through a VA loan. Some conventional loans also allow low down payments. The right choice depends on your credit, your income and the home, which is why we compare loan types side by side.

Assistance helps with cash, but it comes with rules. Most programs have income limits and price limits. Many require a specific first loan, homebuyer education, or repayment when you sell or refinance.

Some Sacramento sellers worry that an assistance loan will slow the closing. A buyer who is fully approved, with the program's paperwork already in motion, answers that worry. We make sure your offer shows it.

Plan for closing costs, an earnest money deposit with your offer, and inspection and appraisal fees during escrow. Many lenders also want to see some savings left over after closing, often called reserves.

Some of those costs can be covered by assistance or by a seller credit you negotiate. Others are paid before closing. Your loan estimate lists them, and we go through it with you so the cash you need is clear before you shop.

CalHFA says its borrowers must complete homebuyer education counseling and get a certificate of completion through an eligible organization. Only one occupying first-time borrower on the loan has to complete it.

Take the course early, even before you find a home. It answers a lot of questions about budgets and escrow, and having the certificate in hand keeps it from holding up your closing.

Start with a pre-approval that compares loans with and without assistance. Maggie is a mortgage broker, so she shops loans across a network of approved lenders and shows you real options instead of one bank's menu. You are always free to bring your own lender.

Our page for first-time buyers in Sacramento covers the search and the offer. First-time buyer loans explains the loan types, and the First-Time Buyer's Guide walks through every step.

All loans are subject to underwriting and approval, and program terms can change. Contact us, or call Maggie at (916) 549-3131 to see which programs fit your Sacramento purchase.

Maggie B. Hopkins, NMLS #349517. This article is general information, not financial advice.