By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 23, 2026

Long Beach CA Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

See programs you qualify for

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Long Beach's city grant has closed, so this page weighs CalHFA's down payment assistance loans and the WISH match against an $806,600 median value.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$806,600
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$24,198
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$16k–$24k
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: the city's first-time buyer grant closed after 76 awards, and LA County's HOP skips Long Beach. CalHFA's MyHome covers a 3.5% FHA down payment on an $806,600 home, worth about $28,231, with ZIP adding closing-cost money.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

Up to 3.5% of the price

CalHFA's deferred junior loan equals the full 3.5% FHA down payment, about $28,231 at the Long Beach median, for first-time buyers under $214,000.

State

CalHFA Zero Interest

2% or 3% of the first loan

A 0% CalHFA loan of 2% or 3% of a CalPLUS first mortgage that pays Long Beach closing costs, which run $16,000 or more here.

Lender network

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

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

FHLBank San Francisco members turn each saved dollar into four grant dollars for first-time buyers below 80% of AMI, $93,300 for one person.

Plan the cash

What buying in Long Beach costs

Median home value$806,600
3% down payment$24,198
Estimated closing costs$16,000–$24,000
Estimated cash before assistance$40,198–$48,198

Estimate only, not a quote. Estimated for an $806,600 Long Beach sale: escrow and title fees, lender charges, appraisal, inspection, homeowners insurance and an impound for the reassessed property tax.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Long Beach

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:Lower-income savers buying a Long Beach condoRepayment / limit:Grant, 5-year retention; Member bank funds, first come
CalHFA MyAccess ProgramMaximum:2.5% of the first loanBest fit:A buyer who needs more than MyHome coversRepayment / limit:Deferred, due on sale or payoff
CalHFA MyHome Assistance ProgramMaximum:Up to 3.5% of the priceBest fit:Covering a Long Beach FHA down payment in fullRepayment / limit:Deferred, due on sale or payoff
CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP)Maximum:2% or 3% of the first loanBest fit:Closing costs at 0% with a CalPLUS loanRepayment / limit:0% deferred, closing costs only
California Dream For All Shared Appreciation LoanMaximum:20% of price, max $150,000Best fit:Conditional: Only 2026 Dream For All voucher holdersRepayment / limit:Repay + share of appreciation

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 FHA buyer

Pair MyHome with ZIP

MyHome matches the 3.5% FHA minimum while ZIP adds 2% or 3% toward closing costs, both on a CalPLUS FHA first loan with income up to $214,000.

Condo buyer under 80% AMI

Stack WISH behind MyHome

A member bank can add a WISH grant of four dollars per saved dollar behind a MyHome loan, which narrows the gap on a Long Beach condo.

Dream For All voucher holder

Use the Dream For All first loan

Dream For All pays 20% of price, capped at $150,000, with a shared-appreciation payoff, and pairs only with its own conventional first loan.

Property and geography checks

CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, MyAccessWhere:All of LA County, Long Beach includedGate:CalHFA first mortgage through an approved loan officer; income up to $214,000 (June 30, 2026)
Dream For AllWhere:Statewide, 2026 voucher holders onlyGate:Dream For All Conventional first loan, 680 credit; portal closed March 16, 2026
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in CA, AZ and NVGate:First-time buyer below 80% of AMI; member must reserve funds by March 12, 2027
FHA, HomeReady, Home PossibleWhere:NationwideGate:Condos need project approval, which matters where only 40.5% of homes are detached houses

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 Long Beach 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 Long Beach home with MyHome and ZIP

Price$806,600
Down payment$28,231
Closing costs$20,000
CalHFA MyHome 3.5%−$28,231
CalHFA ZIP 2%−$15,567
Estimated gap$4,433

CalPLUS FHA first loan of $778,369; ZIP at 3% on the rate sheet would raise help to $23,351.

Lower-income buyer on a $550,000 condo

Price$550,000
Down payment$19,250
Closing costs$12,000
CalHFA MyHome 3.5%−$19,250
WISH grant−$8,000
Estimated gap$4,000

Assumes an FHA-approved condo project and a CalHFA lender that is a WISH member; the buyer's 2,000 dollars of savings earns the match.

Dream For All voucher at the median

Price$806,600
Down payment$161,320
Closing costs$20,000
Dream For All−$150,000
Estimated gap$31,320

20% of price is $161,320, above the $150,000 cap, so the buyer covers $11,320 of the down payment plus closing costs.

How to apply in Long Beach

  1. 1

    Join the city's homebuyer interest list

    Long Beach Neighborhood Services Bureau

    The First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program is closed, but the city keeps an interest list for future homebuyer programs. Sign up so a new round reaches you directly.

    562.570.6949, NSB@longbeach.gov · longbeach.gov

  2. 2

    Finish CalHFA-accepted homebuyer education

    eHome or a HUD-approved counseling agency

    CalHFA accepts eHome's eight-hour online course for 100 dollars, or live counseling from NeighborWorks or any HUD-approved agency. One occupying first-time borrower needs the certificate.

    calhfa.ca.gov

  3. 3

    Reserve MyHome and ZIP with one lender

    CalHFA-approved loan officer

    The loan officer reserves the CalPLUS FHA first mortgage, MyHome and ZIP together and quotes ZIP at 2% or 3% from the daily rate sheet. Compare two lenders' rate sheets on the same day.

    calhfa.ca.gov

  4. 4

    Ask about WISH before you sign

    FHLBank San Francisco member bank

    Only a participating member can enroll you and reserve 2026 WISH funds, first come, first served. Escrow must open within a year of enrollment.

    fhlbsf.com

  5. 5

    Watch for the next Dream For All round

    California Housing Finance Agency

    The 2026 application portal closed March 16, 2026 and vouchers go by random drawing. First-generation buyers should check the program page for the next window.

    calhfa.ca.gov

Free eligibility check

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

  • Free
  • No credit check
  • Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

YesNoNot sure
Question 1 of 6
HouseBuyerGuides.comhousebuyerguides

Local details matter

Buying considerations in Long Beach

Pre-1978 homes and lead

Half of Long Beach housing was built in 1959 or earlier (Census). Long Beach Health's Healthy Homes Program tests pre-1978 houses for lead free for lower-income occupants; condos are excluded. Call 562.570.4488.

Your tax bill resets

Census puts the median owner bill at $5,151, about 0.64% of value, but a purchase triggers reassessment and a supplemental county bill, so budget on your price.

A condo-heavy market

Owners hold 41.2% of Long Beach homes and only 40.5% are detached houses (Census), so many buyers face HOA dues and FHA condo-project approval.

Signal Hill is different

Signal Hill, the separate city surrounded by Long Beach, is on LACDA's HOP participating-city list. Long Beach itself is not, so check the parcel's city before counting on county help.

If local funding isn't available

Long Beach has no open city down payment program: its Recovery Act grant awarded 1.8 million dollars to 76 households from March 2023 to September 2025 and then closed. These routes remain.

State

CalHFA's MyHome can fund the entire 3.5% FHA down payment, and ZIP or MyAccess adds 2% to 3% on CalPLUS loans. Every borrower must be buying a first home, and Los Angeles County's income ceiling is $214,000.

FHLBank

WISH from FHLBank San Francisco matches savings 4 to 1 with a $32,837 ceiling, limited to households below 80% of AMI that have not owned recently. Only a participating member bank or credit union can enroll a Long Beach household.

County

LACDA's Home Ownership Program serves unincorporated Los Angeles County and its participating cities, and Long Beach is not on that list. Buyers looking in Signal Hill or unincorporated areas can check HOP directly.

Federal

FHA at 3.5% down, VA at zero down with full entitlement, and the 3% down HomeReady and Home Possible loans stay open to any qualified Long Beach buyer, along with HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Long Beach's first-time homebuyer grant still taking applications?+
No. The city's First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, paid for by the Long Beach Recovery Act, is closed. It awarded 1.8 million dollars to 76 households between March 2023 and September 2025, and 83% of recipients lived in CDBG areas. The city keeps an interest list for future homebuyer programs, and the Neighborhood Services Bureau answers questions at 562.570.6949.
Can a Long Beach buyer use LA County's Home Ownership Program?+
No. LACDA's HOP covers homes in unincorporated Los Angeles County and in its participating cities, and Long Beach does not appear on that list. Signal Hill, the separate city surrounded by Long Beach, does. A Long Beach buyer should instead look at CalHFA's MyHome and ZIP loans, which cover all of Los Angeles County, and at FHLBank San Francisco's WISH grant.
How far does CalHFA help go on an $806,600 Long Beach home?+
About $43,798 with MyHome and a 2% ZIP loan. MyHome pays 3.5% of price, $28,231, which covers the full FHA down payment, and ZIP pays 2% of the $778,369 CalPLUS loan, $15,567, toward closing costs. With $20,000 of estimated closing costs, the buyer brings roughly $4,433. ZIP at 3%, $23,351, would more than cover the closing costs.
Will my income be too high for CalHFA in Long Beach?+
$214,000 is the Los Angeles County limit for CalHFA first mortgages and junior loans, effective June 30, 2026, so most dual-income Long Beach households fit. The limit counts the income the lender uses to qualify. Dream For All has a lower $171,000 county limit, and WISH requires household income below 80% of AMI, $93,300 for one person.
Does an older Long Beach house need a lead check?+
Yes, for homes built before 1978 it is worth doing. Half of Long Beach's housing dates to 1959 or earlier, and Long Beach Health's Healthy Homes Program offers free lead testing, a home assessment and minor repairs for lower-income occupants of pre-1978 houses and apartments. Condos and manufactured homes are not eligible. Call 562.570.4488 to ask about openings.

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

Sources

Last verified October 23, 2026.

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