By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 26, 2026

Anaheim CA Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

See programs you qualify for

Compare Anaheim down payment assistance against an $831,200 median: the city's 50,000 dollar My Anaheim Home loan, CalHFA's junior loans and the WISH savings match.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value: $831,200; Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down: $24,936; Before closing costs
Closing costs: $17k–$25k; Planning estimate
Assistance paths: 5 programs; Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Start with the program that matches the property: inside Anaheim city limits, My Anaheim Home lends 50,000 dollars at 1% with nothing due for 30 years, but only from an interest list. At the $831,200 median, CalHFA's MyHome covers the $29,092 FHA down payment while the city loan waits.

City

My Anaheim Home First-Time Homebuyer

Up to 50,000 dollars

Lends 50,000 dollars at 1% simple interest with no payments for 30 years on homes inside Anaheim city limits, from an interest list.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

3.5% with FHA, 3% with other loans

Pays the full 3.5% FHA down payment, about $29,092 at the median, for first-time buyers under Orange County's $274,000 CalHFA limit.

Lender network

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)

Lower-income savers banking with a participating member can turn their savings into a grant four times larger, up to $32,837.

Plan the cash

What buying in Anaheim costs

Median home value	$831,200
3% down payment	$24,936
Estimated closing costs	$16,500–$25,000
Estimated cash before assistance	$41,436–$49,936

Estimate only, not a quote. Escrow, title, lender and appraisal fees plus prepaid insurance and Orange County property tax, estimated at 2% to 3% of Anaheim's $831,200 median.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Anaheim

Program	Maximum	Best fit	Repayment / limit
My Anaheim Home First-Time Homebuyer Program	Maximum:Up to 50,000 dollars	Best fit:First-time buyers who can wait on the city list	Repayment / limit:1% simple interest, due in 30 years; Interest list, contacted in order
WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)	Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)	Best fit:Orange County savers below 80% AMI using a member bank	Repayment / limit:Grant, repaid if sold in retention; Member bank funds through Mar 2027
CalHFA MyAccess Program	Maximum:2.5% of the first loan	Best fit:CalPLUS Access FHA buyers short on cash	Repayment / limit:Deferred for the first loan's life
CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program	Maximum:3.5% with FHA, 3% with other loans	Best fit:First-time buyers using any CalHFA first loan	Repayment / limit:Deferred until sale or refinance
CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP)	Maximum:2% or 3% of the first loan	Best fit:CalPLUS FHA buyers who need closing-cost cash	Repayment / limit:0% interest, deferred

Mortgage options that may pair with assistance

These are financing routes, not additional cash awards. Eligibility and compatibility still depend on the lender and program rules.

FHA3.5% down payment
Good Neighbor Next DoorConditional: HUD homes in revitalization areas50% off the list price
Home Possible3% down payment
HomeReady3% down payment
HUD $100 DownConditional: HUD-owned homes with an FHA loan100 dollars down
VA0% down with full entitlement

HomeReady and Home Possible are conventional mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; FHA, VA and USDA loans are government-backed.

Make a decision

Find your best starting point

Condo or townhome buyer

Join the city list now

My Anaheim Home funds condos and townhomes inside city limits, but applicants wait on an interest list, so sign up before house hunting and keep your own 3% ready.

Median-priced house

Price CalPLUS FHA with ZIP

At $831,200, MyHome pays the 3.5% FHA minimum and a 2% ZIP loan pays most closing costs, leaving under $5,000 for the buyer in this estimate.

Saver under 80% of AMI

Ask your bank about WISH

WISH quadruples a first-time buyer's savings through FHLBank San Francisco members, and CalHFA allows other assistance as long as MyHome holds second position.

Veteran

Check VA entitlement first

A VA loan needs no down payment at full entitlement, and CalHFA's VA first mortgage can add MyHome at 3% to cover closing.

Property and geography checks

Program	Where	Property / lender gate
My Anaheim Home	Where:Inside Anaheim city limits only	Gate:No unincorporated parcels; price at or under the city average; buyer's own 3%; in-person HUD class
CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, MyAccess	Where:Statewide; Orange County income limit	Gate:CalHFA first loan; income $274,000 or less since June 30, 2026; 640 credit; homebuyer education
FHA and CalHFA FHA	Where:All of Anaheim	Gate:Condo projects need FHA approval; with 40.5% of units detached houses, check the complex before an offer
FHLBank WISH	Where:Member banks in CA, AZ and NV	Gate:Income at or under 80% of AMI, counseling completed, escrow opened within a year of enrollment

The fastest way to avoid a bad match

Check the address, property type and price cap before comparing assistance amounts.

A larger advertised benefit doesn’t help if the home or lender is outside that program’s rules.

Have a home in mind? Enter its address.

We’ll fill in its city and state on the free eligibility check. A mailing address that says Anaheim isn’t always inside city limits, so confirm with the program before you make an offer.

See the math

Three realistic purchase examples

Illustrations only. Approval, availability and program combinations depend on current rules.

Median house with MyHome and ZIP

Price	$831,200
Down payment	$29,092
Closing costs	$20,750
CalHFA MyHome (3.5%)	−$29,092
CalHFA ZIP (2%)	−$16,042
Estimated gap	$4,708

CalPLUS FHA base loan of $802,108; if the rate sheet offers ZIP at 3%, the loan is $24,063 and covers the closing estimate.

$600,000 townhome with the city loan

Price	$600,000
Down payment	$68,000
Closing costs	$15,000
My Anaheim Home	−$50,000
Estimated gap	$33,000

The buyer's own $18,000 (3%) plus the city's 50,000 dollars make a $68,000 down payment, cutting the first loan to $532,000.

WISH saver buying a $550,000 condo

Price	$550,000
Down payment	$19,250
Closing costs	$13,750
CalHFA MyHome (3.5%)	−$19,250
WISH grant (4:1 on $1,500 saved)	−$6,000
Estimated gap	$7,750

Assumes the condo complex holds FHA approval; the buyer's $1,500 of matched savings is part of the $7,750 left to pay.

How to apply in Anaheim

1
Get on the My Anaheim Home interest list
City of Anaheim Housing and Community Development
Complete the online pre-application screening. The city contacts applicants in the order they submit, verifies every answer, then asks for a full application with documents.
714-765-4300 ext. 4810 · anaheim.gov
2
Take one in-person HUD-approved class
HUD-approved housing counseling agency
The city requires an in-person seminar from a HUD-approved agency. CalHFA accepts the same HUD-approved counseling, and WISH also asks for completed counseling, so one class can serve all three.
anaheim.gov
3
Choose a CalHFA-approved loan officer
California Housing Finance Agency
A CalHFA first mortgage is the only door to MyHome, ZIP and MyAccess. Ask the loan officer to price CalPLUS FHA with ZIP beside CalPLUS Access FHA with MyAccess, and to confirm the city loan can record behind MyHome.
877-922-5432 · calhfa.ca.gov
4
Ask a member bank about WISH
FHLBank San Francisco members
The 2026 WISH pool holds 13 million dollars, and member requests run until March 12, 2027. Enroll before escrow, then open escrow within one year.
fhlbsf.com
5
Check east Anaheim fire zones first
City of Anaheim Wildfire Mitigation
Cal Fire's 2025 hazard zones cover parts of east Anaheim. Look up the address before writing an offer, since the zone affects insurance quotes.
714-765-4039 · anaheim.gov

Free eligibility check

5 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in Anaheim. See which ones fit you.

Free
No credit check
Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

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Question 1 of 6

housebuyerguides

Local details matter

Buying considerations in Anaheim

Wildfire zones in east Anaheim

Cal Fire updated Anaheim's fire hazard severity zones in spring 2025, and the city says wildfire risk is highest in east Anaheim. Get insurance quotes during the inspection period.

Condos make up much of the market

Only 40.5% of Anaheim's housing units are detached houses, so many first-time buyers look at condos. Before an offer, check the complex on HUD's condo approval list, since FHA and CalHFA FHA both require it.

Older homes, median built 1973

Half of Anaheim's homes were built before 1974, so plan for roof, plumbing and electrical findings, and budget for repairs alongside the down payment.

City line versus mailing address

My Anaheim Home excludes unincorporated pockets even when the mailing address says Anaheim, so confirm the parcel is inside city limits before relying on the 50,000 dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an Anaheim city loan for first-time buyers?+

Yes. My Anaheim Home lends 50,000 dollars toward the down payment at 1% simple interest, with no payments for 30 years. Buyers must not have owned a home in three years, earn under the FY2026 limit ($207,900 for four people), buy inside city limits and put in 3% of their own. The city works from an interest list, contacting applicants in the order they sign up at anaheim.gov/6743.

How much cash do I need for a median-priced Anaheim house?+

About $4,708 in this example, after state help. FHA's 3.5% minimum on $831,200 is $29,092, and closing costs near $20,750 bring the total to $49,842. CalHFA's MyHome pays the $29,092, and a 2% ZIP on the $802,108 CalPLUS FHA loan adds $16,042 for closing. If ZIP prices at 3% that day, the $24,063 loan covers the closing estimate entirely.

Can I combine My Anaheim Home with a CalHFA loan?+

Yes, under CalHFA's rules. CalHFA's handbooks let buyers layer non-CalHFA assistance as long as it records behind CalHFA's own junior loans, so the city loan would sit behind MyHome. The city flyer says total down payment help can reach 20% of the price and the buyer's 3% must be their own money. Confirm lien order with Housing and Community Development at 714-765-4300 ext. 4810.

Does an Anaheim mailing address qualify for the city loan?+

Not always. The program page says homes in unincorporated Anaheim are ineligible, so a parcel outside city limits misses the 50,000 dollar loan even with an Anaheim address. CalHFA's loans, the WISH match and federal mortgages still apply there, since they work countywide. Check the parcel with the city before writing an offer.

Do wildfire zones affect buying a home in Anaheim Hills?+

Yes, they can. The city says wildfire risk is greatest in east Anaheim, and Cal Fire updated the hazard severity zones in spring 2025. A home in a high or very high zone can cost more to insure, so get quotes during the inspection period. Anaheim's wildfire mitigation specialist answers zone questions at 714-765-4039, and the city lists home-hardening rebates.

Buying elsewhere in California? Compare all California home buyer programs →

Sources

Last verified October 26, 2026.

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