By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 22, 2026

Fresno CA Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

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Compare Fresno down payment assistance from CalHFA's MyHome and ZIP loans and the WISH savings match while the city's own program is closed, priced against a $374,800 median.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$374,800
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$11,244
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$8k–$11k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
4 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Start with the program that matches the property: Fresno's city Mortgage Assistance Program is closed, so most first-time buyers here pair a CalHFA first loan with MyHome's 3.5% and ZIP's closing-cost help. Fresno County's $192,000 CalHFA income limit leaves most local households eligible.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

3.5% with FHA, 3% with other loans

A deferred junior loan worth 3.5% of the sale price with FHA, enough to cover the full FHA down payment on a typical Fresno house.

State

CalHFA Zero Interest

2% or 3% of the first loan

A 0% deferred loan of 2% or 3% of a CalPLUS FHA loan that pays closing costs on top of MyHome.

Lender network

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

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

Member banks match each dollar a lower-income first-time buyer saves with four grant dollars, up to $32,837, through March 12, 2027.

Plan the cash

What buying in Fresno costs

Median home value$374,800
3% down payment$11,244
Estimated closing costs$7,500–$11,000
Estimated cash before assistance$18,744–$22,244

Estimate only, not a quote. Escrow, title, lender fees, appraisal, inspection and prepaid insurance and tax reserves, about 2% to 3% of a $374,800 Fresno home.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Fresno

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:Savers within 80% of AMI at a member bankRepayment / limit:Grant with a 5-year retention period; Member bank funds, rolling to Mar 2027
CalHFA MyAccess ProgramMaximum:2.5% of the first loanBest fit:CalPLUS Access FHA buyers who need a third layerRepayment / limit:Deferred, repaid on sale or refinance
CalHFA MyHome Assistance ProgramMaximum:3.5% with FHA, 3% with other loansBest fit:First-time buyers using a CalHFA first mortgageRepayment / limit:Deferred, repaid on sale or refinance
CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP)Maximum:2% or 3% of the first loanBest fit:CalPLUS FHA buyers short on closing costsRepayment / limit:0%, deferred until sale or refinance

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.

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

First-time buyer

Layer MyHome and ZIP

With a CalPLUS FHA first loan, MyHome pays 3.5% of what the house costs while ZIP adds 2% or 3% toward closing, and neither needs a payment until sale or refinance.

Lower-income saver

Turn savings into WISH

Households within 80% of AMI who save through a member bank get four grant dollars per dollar saved, and CalHFA allows MyHome to sit beside it.

Veteran

Price VA against CalHFA

VA financing removes the down payment; first-time veterans can also ask whether CalHFA's VA first loan with MyHome's 3% leaves less cash to close.

Property and geography checks

CalHFA MyHomeWhere:Statewide; Fresno County income limitGate:CalHFA first loan required; income $192,000 or less from June 30, 2026; 640 credit; education
CalHFA ZIP and MyAccessWhere:CalPLUS FHA or CalPLUS Access FHA onlyGate:Third lien behind MyHome; ZIP pays closing costs only; percentages follow the daily rate sheet
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in CA, AZ and NVGate:80% of AMI or less, counseling before closing, buyer funds equal to a quarter of the grant
FHA, HomeReady, Home PossibleWhere:All of FresnoGate:Condo projects need approval; HomeReady and Home Possible cap income at 80% of AMI

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.

We’ll fill in its city and state on the free eligibility check. A mailing address that says Fresno 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-value house with MyHome and ZIP

Price$374,800
Down payment$13,118
Closing costs$9,250
CalHFA MyHome (3.5%)−$13,118
CalHFA ZIP (2%)−$7,234
Estimated gap$2,016

CalPLUS FHA with a $361,682 base loan; ZIP at 3% would add $10,850 instead and close the gap.

Lower-income saver at $320,000 with WISH

Price$320,000
Down payment$9,600
Closing costs$8,000
CalHFA MyHome (3%)−$9,600
WISH grant (4:1 match)−$6,400
Estimated gap$1,600

CalHFA conventional first loan with 3% down; the buyer's $1,600 is the quarter-of-grant contribution WISH requires.

First-time veteran at $350,000 with VA

Price$350,000
Down payment$0
Closing costs$8,500
CalHFA MyHome (part of 3%)−$8,500
Estimated gap$0

CalHFA VA first loan; MyHome allows up to 3%, or $10,500 here, but no cash back, so the draw matches closing costs.

How to apply in Fresno

  1. 1

    Take CalHFA homebuyer education

    CalHFA-accepted homebuyer course

    CalHFA requires education for first-time borrowers, and one occupying first-time borrower per loan must finish it before closing. WISH also needs counseling before closing, so pick a course that covers both.

    calhfa.ca.gov

  2. 2

    Choose a CalHFA-approved lender

    California Housing Finance Agency

    MyHome, ZIP and MyAccess only come with a CalHFA first mortgage made by an approved loan officer. Have the loan officer compare CalPLUS FHA with ZIP against standard CalHFA FHA with MyHome alone.

    877-922-5432 · calhfa.ca.gov

  3. 3

    Check Fresno County's income limit

    California Housing Finance Agency

    For reservations on or after June 30, 2026, CalHFA caps qualifying income at $192,000 in Fresno County. Only the lender's credit-qualifying income counts toward that limit.

    calhfa.ca.gov

  4. 4

    Ask Llaves de tu Casa partners about WISH

    City of Fresno Housing Division

    The city's Llaves de tu Casa initiative works with NAHREP Fresno, Self-Help Enterprises, Union Bank and FHLBank San Francisco's WISH program. Members can enroll WISH households until March 12, 2027.

    559-621-8300 · fresno.gov

  5. 5

    Watch for the city loan to reopen

    City of Fresno Housing Division

    The Mortgage Assistance Program, a 0% loan reaching $100,000 forgiven over 15 years, is listed as closed. The Housing Division posts its guidelines and lender letter on the same page.

    559-621-8300 · fresno.gov

Free eligibility check

4 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in Fresno. 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.comhousebuyerguides

Local details matter

Buying considerations in Fresno

Budget for a supplemental tax bill

Fresno County reappraises a home when it sells and mails a supplemental bill on top of the regular one, prorated to the fiscal year's end. Set cash aside for it, and file the Homeowners' Exemption within 30 days of the notice.

Income limits leave wide room

CalHFA's $192,000 Fresno County limit is more than 2.5 times the city's $70,991 median household income, so price and payment, not income, usually decide whether a CalHFA loan fits.

Mostly single-family stock

Census classes 61.2% of homes in Fresno as single-family detached, with a median build year of 1980, so most listings are detached houses rather than condos that need project approval.

If local funding isn't available

The City of Fresno's Mortgage Assistance Program, a 0% loan reaching $100,000 forgiven over 15 years, is currently closed. Fresno buyers still have these state, bank and federal routes.

CalHFA MyHome and ZIP

MyHome's junior loan reaches 3.5% of the sale price with CalHFA FHA, and ZIP adds 2% or 3% of a CalPLUS FHA loan for closing costs, both deferred until sale or refinance.

FHLBank WISH grant

Member banks, including partners in the city's Llaves de tu Casa initiative, match savings four to one, capped at $32,837, for first-time purchasers within 80% of AMI.

Federal low-down loans

FHA asks 3.5% down, VA lends with nothing down to eligible veterans, and HomeReady or Home Possible accept 3% from Fresno borrowers under 80% of Fresno County AMI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fresno's city down payment loan open right now?+
No. The City of Fresno lists its Mortgage Assistance Program, a 0% loan reaching $100,000 forgiven over 15 years, as currently closed. Buyers can still use CalHFA's MyHome and ZIP loans, the WISH matching grant through member banks, and federal FHA, VA, HomeReady and Home Possible loans. The Housing Division answers at 559-621-8300.
What does closing on a $374,800 Fresno house cost with CalHFA help?+
About $2,016 in this example. Without help, the buyer faces $13,118 of FHA down payment plus about $9,250 of closing costs, $22,368 in all. MyHome at 3.5% of the sale price covers the $13,118 down payment, and a 2% ZIP on the $361,682 CalPLUS FHA loan adds $7,234 for closing. A 3% ZIP option would cover the rest.
What is the CalHFA income limit in Fresno County?+
$192,000 for reservations received on or after June 30, 2026. CalHFA uses the lender's credit-qualifying income, so income from household members who are not on the loan is not counted. That ceiling sits well above the city's $70,991 median household income, so most Fresno first-time buyers clear it.
Can I combine WISH with CalHFA MyHome in Fresno?+
Yes. CalHFA's MyHome handbook allows other down payment grants as long as MyHome stays in second lien position, and WISH is a grant. The member bank must enroll you in WISH, and the buyer still puts in a quarter of the grant amount. On a $320,000 purchase, $1,600 of savings can bring in a $6,400 WISH grant beside a $9,600 MyHome loan.
Will my Fresno property taxes change after I buy?+
Usually, yes. Fresno County reappraises a home on a change in ownership and sends a supplemental tax bill on top of the regular bill, prorated to the end of the fiscal year, so keep cash in reserve after closing. File the Homeowners' Exemption within 30 days of the supplemental notice if the home is your main residence.

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

Sources

Last verified October 22, 2026.

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