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

Los Angeles CA Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

See programs you qualify for

Get Matched Free →

Compare Los Angeles down payment assistance from LAHD's two city loans, CalHFA's percentage loans and FHLBank grants, and see what each covers at a $921,200 median.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$921,200
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$27,636
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$19k–$28k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
7 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Inside Los Angeles city limits, LAHD's LIPA reaches $161,000 and MIPA $115,000 for one-unit homes priced at $956,465 or less, but each opens only on scheduled reservation dates. CalHFA's MyHome and ZIP cover all of Los Angeles County year-round under a $214,000 income ceiling.

City

Los Angeles Low Income Purchase Assistance

Up to $161,000

LAHD's largest homebuyer loan, as much as $161,000 at 0% with a shared-appreciation payoff, under a $133,250 income cap for a four-person household.

City

Los Angeles Moderate Income Purchase Assistance

Up to $115,000

As much as $115,000 for moderate earners above the LIPA line, with a 2026 four-person band of $133,251 to $183,250.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

Up to 3.5% of the price

A year-round CalHFA loan worth up to 3.5% of the price, enough to cover an FHA down payment anywhere in Los Angeles County.

Plan the cash

What buying in Los Angeles costs

Median home value$921,200
3% down payment$27,636
Estimated closing costs$18,500–$27,500
Estimated cash before assistance$46,136–$55,136

Estimate only, not a quote. Estimated for a $921,200 Los Angeles sale: escrow, title and lender charges, appraisal and inspection, homeowners insurance and a tax impound.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Low Income Purchase Assistance (LIPA)Maximum:Up to $161,000Best fit:Households at or below 80% of AMI buying in LARepayment / limit:0% deferred + shared appreciation; Next round Nov 18, 2026: 15 slots
Los Angeles Moderate Income Purchase Assistance (MIPA)Maximum:Up to $115,000Best fit:Moderate earners buying a condo or townhome in LARepayment / limit:0% deferred + shared appreciation; Next round Dec 16, 2026: 13 slots
WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:Low-income savers banking with a member lenderRepayment / limit:Grant, 5-year retention; Member bank funds, first come
CalHFA MyAccess ProgramMaximum:2.5% of the first loanBest fit:Extra down payment help beyond MyHomeRepayment / limit:Deferred with interest, due on sale
CalHFA MyHome Assistance ProgramMaximum:Up to 3.5% of the priceBest fit:Covering an FHA down payment year-roundRepayment / limit:Deferred, simple interest, due on sale
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 if drawn in the yearly lotteryRepayment / limit:Repay + 20% 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

Income under 80% of median

Line up LIPA's November round

LIPA's ceiling is $161,000, and a four-person household qualifies on income of $133,250 or less; LAHD's next reservation date is November 18, 2026, with 15 slots.

Moderate-income buyer

Target MIPA in December

MIPA's four-person band runs from $133,251 to $183,250, and the loan tops out at $115,000; its December 16, 2026 round has 13 reservations.

Buying at the median price

Pair MyHome with ZIP

With CalPLUS FHA, MyHome covers the 3.5% down payment and ZIP adds a rate-sheet share of the loan for closing costs, with no reservation calendar.

First in your family to own

Enter the Dream For All lottery

A drawn voucher brings as much as $150,000; Los Angeles County's income limit is $171,000, and the 2026 window closed March 16.

Property and geography checks

LIPA and MIPAWhere:City of Los Angeles limits onlyGate:One-unit home up to $956,465, not tenant-occupied; 660 FICO and 1% of the price from your own funds
CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, MyAccessWhere:All of Los Angeles CountyGate:CalHFA first mortgage from an approved lender; income up to $214,000 (June 30, 2026)
Dream For AllWhere:Statewide, lottery voucher holdersGate:Dream For All Conventional first loan, 680 credit, combined loan-to-value between 95% and 105%
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in CA, AZ and NVGate:Household at or below 80% of AMI; member must reserve funds before the March 12, 2027 deadline

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 Los Angeles 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-priced home with MyHome and ZIP

Price$921,200
Down payment$32,242
Closing costs$23,000
CalHFA MyHome−$32,242
CalHFA ZIP at 2%−$17,779
Estimated gap$5,221

CalPLUS FHA with 3.5% down and an $888,958 first loan; a 3% ZIP day would cover nearly all closing costs.

LAHD's LIPA example

Price$536,666
Down payment$152,467
Closing costs$16,100
LAHD LIPA loan−$161,000
Estimated gap$7,567

LAHD's own example: a $384,199 first mortgage, the 1% buyer down payment of $5,367 and $2,200 from a gift or other source.

LAHD's MIPA example

Price$600,000
Down payment$105,500
Closing costs$18,000
LAHD MIPA loan−$115,000
Estimated gap$8,500

LAHD's own example: a $494,500 first mortgage, the buyer's 1% of $6,000 and $2,500 from a gift or other source.

How to apply in Los Angeles

  1. 1

    Take an LAHD-approved homebuyer class

    An LAHD-approved education provider

    LIPA and MIPA both require an 8-hour homebuyer class plus counseling from one of LAHD's approved providers. CalHFA separately accepts eHome's online course or a HUD-approved agency, so ask the provider whether one certificate satisfies both.

    housing.lacity.gov

  2. 2

    Pre-qualify with an LAHD participating lender

    Los Angeles Housing Department

    Only LAHD's participating lenders can pre-qualify you for a first mortgage and a city loan together. Ask each lender which reservation round your file can make.

    (213) 808-8800, lahd.homebuyerinfo@lacity.org · housing.lacity.gov

  3. 3

    Hit the reservation date

    Your LAHD participating lender

    LAHD takes reservations only on set dates: LIPA on November 18, 2026 with 15 slots and MIPA on December 16, 2026 with 13. The lender submits on your behalf, and the schedule can change.

  4. 4

    Price CalHFA loans side by side

    A CalHFA-approved loan officer

    If the city rounds are full or your income is above MIPA, ask for CalPLUS FHA with MyHome and ZIP beside CalPLUS Access with MyAccess. Los Angeles County's CalHFA income limit is $214,000.

    877-922-5432 · calhfa.ca.gov

  5. 5

    Ask about LA's Mortgage Credit Certificate

    Los Angeles Housing Department

    LAHD's MCC gives first-time buyers a federal tax credit of 20% of the mortgage interest paid each year, and LIPA and MIPA applicants may be required to apply for it when funds are available.

    housing.lacity.gov

  6. 6

    Check WISH with your bank

    An FHLBank San Francisco member bank

    Member banks reserve WISH matching grants of up to $32,837 for households at or below 80% of AMI until March 12, 2027, first come, first served.

    assets.fhlbsf.com

Free eligibility check

7 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles

Fire zones and insurance

LAFD requires owners in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to keep brush cleared within 200 feet of structures year-round. Get insurance quotes early; the state's FAIR Plan offers only limited fire coverage.

Your tax bill resets

Census puts the median owner tax bill at $6,050 (0.66% of the median value), but a purchase triggers reassessment and a supplemental county bill, so budget on your price, not the seller's bill.

Condos and older homes

Only 36.1% of Los Angeles housing units are single-family detached, and half the stock dates from 1965 or earlier. LIPA and MIPA accept condos and townhomes; FHA condos need project approval.

City loan price cap

LIPA and MIPA stop at $956,465, only $35,265 above the $921,200 Census median, so a home priced much above the citywide midpoint falls outside both city loans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the City of Los Angeles run its own down payment program?+
Yes. The Los Angeles Housing Department runs two: LIPA, worth as much as $161,000 for households at or below 80% of AMI, and MIPA, capped at $115,000 for moderate earners. Both are 0% deferred loans with a shared-appreciation payoff, due on sale, title transfer, first mortgage payoff or after 30 years. Reservations open only on set dates through LAHD's participating lenders.
Can I use LIPA or MIPA for a home in Long Beach, Glendale or unincorporated LA County?+
No. LAHD's pages limit both loans to properties located in the City of Los Angeles, and many addresses that say Los Angeles belong to other cities or county areas, so have the lender confirm the jurisdiction first. Buyers outside the city can still use CalHFA's MyHome and ZIP, which follow the Los Angeles County income limit of $214,000.
What does a median-priced Los Angeles purchase take in cash?+
About $55,242 before help: a $921,200 price, 3.5% FHA down of $32,242 and roughly $23,000 of estimated closing costs. CalHFA's MyHome can cover that down payment and ZIP at 2% adds $17,779 toward closing, leaving about $5,221 plus prepaid items. LIPA and MIPA sit outside this example because they have their own income bands and reservation dates.
When is the next LIPA or MIPA reservation round?+
November 18, 2026 for LIPA, with 15 loan reservations, and December 16, 2026 for MIPA, with 13, according to LAHD's posted schedule. Earlier 2026 rounds held between 12 and 34 reservations each. A participating lender must submit the reservation for you, so get pre-qualified and finish the 8-hour class before the date. LAHD notes that the schedule can change.
Who qualifies for MIPA instead of LIPA?+
$133,251 to $183,250 is MIPA's 2026 band for four people, above LIPA's 80% of median line; for one person it is $93,301 to $128,300. Both programs require a 660 middle FICO score, a first-time buyer with no ownership in three years, and at least 1% of the price from your own funds. The $956,465 price cap is the same for both.
Are LA homes in fire zones harder to buy with assistance?+
No program bars them, but costs rise. LAFD requires year-round brush clearance within 200 feet of structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, which adds upkeep to the budget. The state's FAIR Plan offers only limited fire coverage, so buyers in hillside areas should price insurance before making an offer, since lenders need proof of coverage to close.

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

Sources

Last verified October 23, 2026.

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