Financial Assistance for Homebuyers in California
The City of Santa Ana in California recognizes that many potential homebuyers who can afford monthly mortgage payments don’t have the funds saved up to make required down payment on a new home. To help individuals overcome this hurdle, the City offers the Downpayment Assistance Loan Program to first-time homebuyers, which helps them purchase of a home within the City of Santa Ana.
Available Assistance
Santa Ana’s Downpayment Assistance Loan Program provides eligible applicants up to $40,000 to be put toward the down payment on their new home. These funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, in the form of a zero-interest loan. These assistance funds for properties being purchased that will be owner-occupied.
Eligibility Requirements
There are certain requirements that must be met to qualify for the program. Only first-time homebuyers are considered eligible for Santa Ana’s Downpayment Assistance Loan Program, which means that anyone who has owned a home in the last three years cannot qualify for assistance. They must be pre-qualified for a first mortgage, and have acceptable credit history. An applicant’s household annual income must fall at or below 80 percent of area median income, as published annually by HUD (Limits shown below).
Homebuyer Education
Applicants are also required to complete the Homebuyer Counseling Program, and must be able to contribute at least 3 percent of the down payment from their own cash assets.
Property Guidelines
Any home being purchased must be located in Santa Ana, and cannot exceed the program’s maximum purchase price of $499,000 for a new or existing home/condo.
Income Limits
Household income is defined as all income received by household members (18 years or older) who will be living in the home, even if they are not on the mortgage.
1 person household: $54,600
2 person household: $62,400
3 person household: $70,200
4 person household: $78,000
5 person household: $84,250
6 person household: $90,500
7 person household: $96,750
8 person household: $103,000
(Note: These figures were accurate at the time of publication and may no longer be current – visit the program website for updated information.)
Down payment assistance programs and/or grants were researched by the team at Down-Payment-Help.com. Please note that all programs listed on this website may involve a second mortgage with payments that are forgiven, deferred, or subsidized in some manner until resale of the mortgaged property.
Down-Payment-Help.com’s compilation is not a complete list, but it can serve as a starting point in your search for the down payment assistance program or grant for your situation. It is up to the consumer to contact these entities and find out the specifics of each program.