The California program many first-time buyers were waiting for is no longer accepting new applications. But that does not mean every down payment assistance option is gone.
Rony Velasquez, Real Estate and Mortgage Broker, Realtor, and Mortgage Loan Originator, has held a California Department of Real Estate license since 2004. With more than twenty two years of experience, more than three thousand transactions, experience helping more than five hundred families, and NMLS credentials, he regularly helps buyers compare assistance programs with the repayment obligations that come with them.
The important question now is not, “Did I miss Dream For All?”
It is: Which programs can a qualified buyer still pursue today?
What happened to Dream For All?
The CalHFA Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan closed its 2026 application window on March 16, 2026. It is not accepting new applications.
Dream For All was designed to help eligible first-generation, first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing costs. The assistance could be substantial, but it was not free money. The program used shared appreciation, meaning the homeowner generally repays the original assistance and a share of the home’s increase in value when the home is sold, transferred, or the first mortgage is paid off.
If you submitted an application, you can check your status through the official Dream For All portal. If you did not submit one before the deadline, you cannot start a new 2026 application.
The good news is that other programs remain available, subject to eligibility, lender approval, and available funding.
Five down payment programs still open in 2026
1. CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program
The CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program is open year-round, subject to funding availability and current program rules.
MyHome is a deferred-payment junior loan that can assist with the down payment and certain closing costs when paired with a CalHFA first mortgage.
The current assistance limits are:
- Up to three and a half percent of the purchase price or appraised value with a CalHFA FHA first mortgage
- Up to three percent of the purchase price or appraised value with a CalHFA conventional first mortgage
The lower value generally controls. For example, if the purchase price is higher than the appraised value, the assistance calculation may be based on the appraised value.
To pursue MyHome, buyers must:
- Use a CalHFA-approved lender
- Meet CalHFA income limits for the county and household size
- Meet first-time homebuyer requirements
- Occupy the home as a primary residence
- Complete an approved homebuyer education course
Review the official CalHFA MyHome page for current requirements.
2. CalHFA Zero Interest Program
The CalHFA Zero Interest Program, commonly called ZIP, remains available for eligible buyers when paired with qualifying CalHFA first mortgages.
ZIP is intended to help with closing costs. It is not a replacement for reviewing the complete loan structure. The first mortgage, assistance layer, lender fees, insurance, taxes, and cash required from the buyer all affect the final numbers.
A buyer should ask the lender:
- Which CalHFA first mortgage is required?
- Can ZIP be combined with MyHome in the proposed structure?
- What expenses can ZIP cover?
- When does repayment become due?
- What are the first mortgage interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate?
Even when payments are deferred, the assistance must be repaid according to the program documents. Deferred does not mean forgiven.
3. CalHFA MyAccess Assistance Program
The CalHFA MyAccess Assistance Program is another current CalHFA option connected to qualifying CalPLUS Access first mortgages. Current CalHFA program materials include MyAccess as an active subordinate assistance program.
MyAccess generally must be structured with the required CalHFA first mortgage and other assistance layers. It is not a stand-alone grant that a buyer can request independently.
Because the program structure can depend on the selected first mortgage, the lender should verify:
- Whether MyAccess is currently available for new locks
- Which CalHFA first mortgage is required
- Whether MyHome must also be included
- The maximum assistance amount for the buyer’s loan
- Repayment timing and lien position
- The first mortgage interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate
For current program information, begin with CalHFA’s homebuyer loan program page and work with a participating lender.
4. County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program
The County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program provides a deferred second mortgage for qualifying first-time buyers.
The program may provide up to eighty thousand dollars for households at or below eighty percent of the Orange County Area Median Income. Income limits depend on household size and may change as government guidelines are updated.
The program typically requires:
- First-time homebuyer status
- A primary residence in an eligible Orange County area
- A minimum buyer contribution from personal funds
- Homebuyer education and housing counseling
- Approval through a participating lender
- Compliance with property and purchase-price requirements
Availability can change during the year. Buyers should contact the Orange County housing office to confirm whether funds are currently available, whether applications are being accepted, and which properties and jurisdictions qualify.
The County assistance is a second mortgage, not a gift. Repayment rules may be triggered by a sale, transfer, refinance, payoff of the first mortgage, or failure to maintain the required occupancy.
5. City of Buena Park CalHome-funded first-time homebuyer program
Buena Park buyers may also qualify for the City of Buena Park’s CalHome-funded first-time homebuyer program.
This local program is intended for households at or below eighty percent of the Orange County Area Median Income. The buyer must contribute a minimum of three percent toward the down payment from the buyer’s own funds.
The program may assist with down payment and closing costs through a deferred second mortgage. Availability is limited and must be confirmed directly with the City.
For current information, contact the City of Buena Park Economic Development housing line at:
714-562-3590
This is the City of Buena Park’s number and is separate from the Maya Team Inc. contact information below.
Ask the City to confirm:
- Whether the program is open to new applicants
- The current maximum assistance amount
- Current income limits by household size
- Required buyer contribution
- Homebuyer education requirements
- Eligible properties within Buena Park
- Whether the assistance can be combined with another program
What eligibility requirements keep appearing?
Although the programs are different, several screening themes repeat.
First-time homebuyer definition
Many programs use a three-year rule. A buyer may qualify as a first-time homebuyer if the buyer has not owned an ownership interest in a principal residence during the previous three years. The exact definition can vary, especially for married borrowers, displaced homemakers, and certain special circumstances.
Household income limits
Income limits are based on the county, household size, and program. A household that qualifies in one county may not qualify in another. Lenders and local housing agencies may count income differently from a buyer’s simple annual salary estimate.
Credit score and debt-to-income ratio
Each first mortgage has credit and underwriting requirements. The debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of gross monthly income used for recurring debt payments. A buyer can meet an income limit and still be declined if credit history, monthly debt, reserves, or payment history do not meet the first mortgage requirements.
Primary residence occupancy
These programs are generally designed for owner-occupied homes. A buyer should expect to live in the property as a primary residence. Investment properties and second homes usually do not qualify.
Homebuyer education
Homebuyer education may be required before closing. Do not wait until the end of escrow to ask about the course. Some programs accept only specific providers or require counseling in addition to an online class.
Buyer comparison checklist
Before applying, confirm each item below:
- Is the program accepting applications today?
- Is funding available for the current year?
- Does the buyer meet the first-time homebuyer definition?
- Is household income within the applicable county limit?
- Does the household size calculation match the program’s rules?
- Is the credit score sufficient for the first mortgage?
- Is the debt-to-income ratio within lender limits?
- Will the property be the buyer’s primary residence?
- Is the property type eligible?
- How much money must come from the buyer’s own funds?
- Is homebuyer education required?
- Is the assistance a deferred second mortgage?
- When must the assistance be repaid?
- What happens if the buyer refinances, sells, transfers, or stops occupying the home?
- What are the first mortgage interest rate and Annual Percentage Rate?
Questions to ask a lender before making an offer
Ask the lender to provide a written comparison of at least two financing structures.
Important questions include:
- Which programs are accepting applications right now?
- Is the assistance a grant, a deferred loan, or a shared appreciation loan?
- What is the total cash needed to close?
- What funds must come from the buyer’s own bank account?
- Can two assistance programs be combined?
- What is the repayment trigger for each second mortgage?
- Does refinancing cause immediate repayment?
- Are there purchase-price, property-type, or geographic restrictions?
- How long will program approval take?
- Could the funds run out before closing?
The practical takeaway
Dream For All is paused for new 2026 applications, but qualified buyers in California and Orange County may still have alternatives. MyHome, ZIP, MyAccess, the County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program, and Buena Park’s CalHome-funded program each have different rules and repayment obligations.
These programs may reduce the amount of cash needed at closing, but they do not eliminate the responsibility to repay assistance. Treat the second lien as part of the long-term cost of ownership, not as free money.
Funds can also run out in the middle of the year. That is why preapproval timing matters. A buyer who waits until finding a home may discover that the program changed, the funding pool closed, or the required education and documentation cannot be completed before closing.
For educational resources and consumer-focused guidance, visit Maya Team Inc..
Contact Maya Team Inc.
Rony Velasquez
Real Estate and Mortgage Broker
Realtor
Mortgage Loan Originator
Mona Bottros
Realtor and Office Manager
Phone: 562-762-9634
Email: mayateaminc@gmail.com
Direct message: Send a message through the Maya Team Inc. community.
If you know someone who thinks they missed their chance because Dream For All closed, send this guide to them. They may still have another path to evaluate.
