Financial Assistance for Homebuyers in California

GSFA Platinum Program

Financial Assistance for Homebuyers in California

California’s Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) created the Platinum Program, which provides low-to-moderate income California homebuyers with down payment and/or closing cost assistance to help them achieve their goals of purchasing a home.

Available Assistance
GSFA’s Platinum Program provides applicants with down payment and/or closing cost assistance in the form of a non-repayable grant up to 5 percent of the total loan amount. This is a gift in the true sense, which means it is not a second mortgage, does not create a lien against the property, and there are no terms for repayment.

The purpose of this program is to make funds available to eligible applicants who are interested in purchasing a home but need financial help to pay the upfront costs, which include the down payment, as well as the closing costs and prepaid items required to obtain homeownership. These expenses can add up to a substantial amount, and the inability to pay it might keep people stuck in a renters trap.

Eligibility Requirements
The GSFA Platinum Program has certain requirements that all applicants must meet to be considered eligible for assistance. Any home being purchased under the program must serve as the applicant’s primary residence; the program is designed to help individuals purchase homes, not investment properties. Additionally, all applicants must fall under the Program’s Income Limits, have a credit score of at least 640, and a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 50 percent. Unlike most down payment assistance programs, there is no requirement for applicants to be first-time homebuyers.

Property Guidelines
The program is meant to be flexible; it can be used to buy both new and existing homes, as long as it is the applicant’s primary residence.

*Seller-funded down payment programs were eliminated in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, but States and Local government agencies are still permitted to help borrowers finance their homes with second mortgages and grants. These agencies set different requirements that a borrower needs to meet in order to qualify for the grant programs, such as property location, and purchase price and income limits.

Note: All figures mentioned above were accurate at the time of publication and may no longer be current. Visit the program website for updated information.