By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 25, 2026

San Diego CA Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

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Compare San Diego down payment assistance from the Housing Commission's two city programs, CalHFA's junior loans and the WISH savings match against a $906,700 median.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$906,700
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$27,201
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$18k–$27k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
7 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

SDHC's low-income loan tops out at homes priced $883,025, a shade under the $906,700 Census median, and its middle-income package stretches to $1,250,000. Buyers above both lines lean on CalHFA's MyHome and ZIP, which work across San Diego County.

City

City of San Diego First-Time Homebuyer

17% of price (max $125,000)

SDHC lends 17% of the price, capped at $125,000, plus a closing grant reaching $10,000 for households under the 80% AMI line.

City

City of San Diego First-Time Homebuyer

$40,000 loan + $10,000 grant

A $40,000 loan plus a $10,000 grant for earners between 80% and 150% of AMI, on homes priced up to $1,250,000.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

Up to 3.5% of the price

CalHFA's deferred MyHome loan, worth up to 3.5% of the price, works anywhere in San Diego County under a $259,000 income limit.

Plan the cash

What buying in San Diego costs

Median home value$906,700
3% down payment$27,201
Estimated closing costs$18,000–$27,000
Estimated cash before assistance$45,201–$54,201

Estimate only, not a quote. Escrow and title, lender fees, appraisal, inspections, first-year insurance and a tax impound on a $906,700 San Diego purchase.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in San Diego

City of San Diego First-Time Homebuyer Program (Low-Income)Maximum:17% of price (max $125,000)Best fit:Low-income households buying at $883,025 or lessRepayment / limit:3% simple interest, due in 30 years; Buyer pays 3% down, 1% own funds
City of San Diego First-Time Homebuyer Program (Middle-Income)Maximum:$40,000 loan + $10,000 grantBest fit:Middle earners buying homes priced to $1,250,000Repayment / limit:4% loan, payments begin in year 6; Grant forgiven after 3 years
WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:Savers at 80% of AMI with 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:A further 2.5% of the loan toward the down paymentRepayment / limit:Deferred with interest, due on transfer
CalHFA MyHome Assistance ProgramMaximum:Up to 3.5% of the priceBest fit:Paying a 3.5% FHA down payment anywhere in the countyRepayment / 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% alongside a CalPLUS FHA loanRepayment / limit:0% deferred, closing costs only
California Dream For All Shared Appreciation LoanMaximum:20% of price, max $150,000Best fit:Conditional: Only for voucher holders from a drawingRepayment / limit:Repay plus 15–20% 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 AMI

Keep the price under $883,025

SDHC's low-income loan can fund 17% of the price, capped at $125,000, and its closing grant reaches $10,000. Four-person households fit at $139,900 or less in 2026.

Middle-income buyer

Weigh SDHC's $50,000 package

The $40,000 loan carries 4% interest and turns into monthly payments in year 6, and the $10,000 grant is forgiven after 3 years. A four-person household fits at $139,900 to $196,350.

Buying near the median

Lean on CalHFA's junior loans

At $906,700 the SDHC low-income cap is already passed, so MyHome's 3.5% and ZIP's closing-cost loan, both tied to a CalPLUS FHA mortgage, carry most of the cash.

Veteran or service member

Price a VA loan first

With full entitlement, VA financing can skip the down payment entirely, and MyHome can add up to 3% of the price with a CalHFA VA first loan for first-time buyers.

Property and geography checks

SDHC low-income loanWhere:City of San Diego, 921 ZIP codesGate:Price up to $883,025, 660 middle score at 45% DTI, and 3% down with 1% from your own funds
SDHC middle-income packageWhere:City of San Diego, 921 ZIP codesGate:Price up to $1,250,000, 1.5% down with 1% your own, and it can't be added to the low-income loan
CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, MyAccessWhere:Anywhere in San Diego CountyGate:A CalHFA first mortgage through an approved lender; household income up to $259,000 (June 30, 2026)
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in CA, AZ and NVGate:Income at or below 80% of AMI, counseling, and the bank must reserve funds by March 12, 2027

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 San Diego 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 home with MyHome and ZIP

Price$906,700
Down payment$31,735
Closing costs$22,500
CalHFA MyHome−$31,735
CalHFA ZIP at 2%−$17,499
Estimated gap$5,001

A CalPLUS FHA loan of $874,965 with 3.5% down; on a day ZIP prices at 3%, it would cover about $26,200.

SDHC low-income loan on a $700,000 condo

Price$700,000
Down payment$140,000
Closing costs$16,000
SDHC deferred loan (17%)−$119,000
SDHC closing cost grant−$10,000
Estimated gap$27,000

A $560,000 first mortgage and the buyer's required 3% ($21,000), plus $6,000 of closing costs.

SDHC middle-income package at $950,000

Price$950,000
Down payment$54,250
Closing costs$23,000
SDHC middle-income loan−$40,000
SDHC closing cost grant−$10,000
Estimated gap$27,250

An $895,750 conventional first loan; the buyer brings the 1.5% minimum of $14,250 plus $13,000 of closing costs.

How to apply in San Diego

  1. 1

    Finish SDHC-approved homebuyer education

    An SDHC-approved education provider

    Both city programs require a homebuyer education class and pre-purchase counseling from SDHC's approved list. CalHFA and WISH have their own education rules, so ask the provider whether one certificate covers all three.

    sdhc.org

  2. 2

    Choose an SDHC participating lender

    San Diego Housing Commission

    Only a loan officer from SDHC's participating lender list can submit the city application, so pick the lender before you shop. SDHC lists both programs as funds available.

    (619) 578-7788, homeownership@sdhc.org · sdhc.org

  3. 3

    Confirm the address and the price cap

    Your SDHC participating lender

    The home must be inside the City of San Diego with a 921 ZIP code, owner-occupied or vacant, and priced up to $883,025 for the low-income loan or $1,250,000 for the middle-income package.

  4. 4

    Price CalHFA as a parallel route

    A CalHFA-approved loan officer

    If your income tops 150% of AMI or the home runs past the city caps, ask for CalPLUS FHA with MyHome and ZIP. San Diego County's CalHFA income limit is $259,000 for reservations on or after June 30, 2026.

    877-922-5432 · calhfa.ca.gov

  5. 5

    Ask a member bank about WISH

    An FHLBank San Francisco member bank

    WISH applications run on a rolling basis until 5:00 pm Pacific on March 12, 2027, with a 4-to-1 savings match up to $32,837 and a 5-year retention period.

    assets.fhlbsf.com

Free eligibility check

7 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in San Diego. 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 San Diego

Zone 0 deadline in fire zones

The City of San Diego requires existing owners in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to meet Zone 0 rules, covering the first 5 feet around the home, by February 28, 2027.

Supplemental tax bill after closing

A sale triggers reassessment, and the county bills the value change at the 1% rate from closing to June 30. The bill goes to you, not your lender, so set cash aside.

City loan cap sits below the median

SDHC's $883,025 low-income cap is $23,675 under the $906,700 Census median, so that loan generally points to condos, townhomes and lower-priced neighborhoods.

Attached homes and 1970s stock

Single-family detached homes make up 43.1% of the city's housing, and the median construction year is 1979. SDHC accepts condos and townhomes; FHA condos need project approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does San Diego have a city-run down payment program?+
Yes. The San Diego Housing Commission runs two for the City of San Diego: a low-income loan covering 17% of the price up to $125,000 plus a closing grant up to $10,000, and a middle-income package of a $40,000 loan plus a $10,000 grant. SDHC lists funds available for both, and a participating lender submits the application.
Which SDHC program matches my household income?+
$139,900 is the 2026 dividing line for four people. At or below it, the low-income loan applies; from $139,900 to $196,350, the middle-income package does. For one person the bands are up to $97,950 and $97,950 to $137,450. The two programs can't be combined, and both require that no adult in the household has owned a home in three years.
What does closing on a median-value San Diego home take in cash?+
About $54,235 before help on a $906,700 home with 3.5% FHA down and $22,500 of estimated closing costs. CalHFA's MyHome can cover the $31,735 down payment and ZIP at 2% adds $17,499, leaving roughly $5,001 plus prepaid items. SDHC's low-income loan doesn't reach this price, since its cap is $883,025.
Can I stack an SDHC loan with CalHFA's MyHome?+
Not without checking first. SDHC requires any other subordinate loan to record behind its own and to be forgiven or deferred 30 years with no payments, while CalHFA's MyHome handbook says MyHome must sit in second lien position when layered. Those rules point in opposite directions, so treat them as separate routes unless your lender confirms otherwise in writing.
Do SDHC's programs cover homes in Chula Vista, La Mesa or other nearby cities?+
No. Both city programs require a property inside the City of San Diego with a ZIP code beginning 921, and many San Diego mailing addresses fall in other cities or unincorporated county land. Buyers outside the city can still use CalHFA's MyHome, ZIP and MyAccess under the San Diego County income limit of $259,000.
What changes for buyers of hillside homes in fire zones?+
Up to the first 5 feet around the house must meet Zone 0 rules by February 28, 2027 for existing homes in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, under the city's defensible-space requirements. No assistance program bars these homes, but ask the seller what clearing has been done and price insurance before you remove contingencies.

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

Sources

Last verified October 25, 2026.

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