I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. We’re an approved CalHFA lender — I run these calculations for Bay Area buyers regularly and the income limits are higher than most people expect. Call (800) 239-1103.

CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program 2026: Down Payment Help for California Buyers

The CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program is California’s most widely used down payment loan — and one of the most underutilized by buyers who actually qualify. It provides up to 3.5% of your purchase price as a deferred second loan with no monthly payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home.

The part most buyers in this market don’t know: in Marin County, the 2026 income limit is $325,000. That’s not a typo. A lot of buyers who assume they earn too much for any kind of assistance are leaving money on the table.

📞 (800) 239-1103

How MyHome Assistance Works

MyHome is a junior lien — a second mortgage — layered on top of a CalHFA first mortgage. You use it at closing to cover your down payment. No monthly payment on the second; simple interest accrues on the balance and is repaid at payoff.

Assistance amount: up to 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value, whichever is less. On a $650,000 home, that’s $22,750 — enough to cover the entire FHA down payment with nothing out of pocket for the down.

2026 Income Limits — Updated June 2026

CalHFA updated its income limits in June 2026. In high-cost Bay Area counties, the limits are significantly higher than most buyers expect:

• Marin County: up to $325,000
• San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa: up to $325,000
• Most other California counties: $192,000–$210,000

These limits are based on 120% of Area Median Income. If you’re a first-time buyer in Marin under $325,000 in household income and haven’t looked at CalHFA, you should.

Who Qualifies

• First-time homebuyer (no ownership interest in the past 3 years)
• Income at or below the limit for your county (above)
• Using a CalHFA first mortgage — CalHFA FHA, CalHFA Conventional, or CalPLUS
• Primary residence only
• Complete a CalHFA-approved homebuyer education course before closing (online, ~$75–$125)

How to Stack MyHome With Other CalHFA Programs

CalHFA programs are designed to layer. Here’s how California buyers combine them:

• CalHFA FHA + MyHome: MyHome covers the full 3.5% FHA down payment. Zero out-of-pocket for the down.
• CalPLUS FHA + MyHome + ZIP: Down payment AND closing costs covered. This is the maximum stacking combination for buyers who want to minimize cash to close.
• CalHFA Conventional + MyHome: Covers the 3% conventional down payment.

Do You Pay It Back?

Yes — but on your timeline. No monthly payment. Simple interest accrues on the principal balance. When you sell, refinance, or pay off the home, you repay the original loan amount plus accumulated interest. If you’re buying in a market with appreciation potential — which describes most of Marin — the equity you build will substantially exceed the deferred cost of the assistance.

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