By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 21, 2026

San Francisco Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

See programs you qualify for

Get Matched Free →

Sort San Francisco down payment assistance by what is open today, from CalHFA's junior loans to MOHCD's lottery-based DALP, against a $1,394,500 median value.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$1,394,500
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$41,835
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$28k–$42k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
6 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Start with the program that matches the property: the $1,394,500 Census median sits above the $1,249,125 loan ceiling, so a median-priced buyer needs about 10% down before any help. MOHCD's DALP, worth up to $500,000, opens only in lottery rounds, while CalHFA's loans run all year.

City

San Francisco Downpayment Assistance Loan

Up to $500,000

MOHCD's 0% silent second of up to $500,000 for households up to 200% of AMI, awarded by lottery when a round opens.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

3.5% of the price, at most

Open all year: a deferred loan worth 3.5% of the price under San Francisco's $325,000 CalHFA income limit.

Bank grant

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

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

A savings match of as much as $32,837 that lower-income buyers can reserve through a member bank until March 12, 2027.

Plan the cash

What buying in San Francisco costs

Median home value$1,394,500
3% down payment$41,835
Estimated closing costs$28,000–$42,000
Estimated cash before assistance$69,835–$83,835

Estimate only, not a quote. Escrow, title, lender and appraisal charges, inspections, first-year insurance and a tax impound on a $1,394,500 San Francisco purchase.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in San Francisco

San Francisco Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (DALP)Maximum:Up to $500,000Best fit:Conditional: Only in an open MOHCD lottery roundRepayment / limit:0% deferred, shared appreciation; Buyer puts in at least 1% of price
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:Another 2.5% of the loan toward the down paymentRepayment / limit:Deferred with interest, due on transfer
CalHFA MyHome Assistance ProgramMaximum:3.5% of the price, at mostBest fit:A 3.5% FHA down payment on a condo below the ceilingRepayment / limit:Deferred simple interest, due on sale
CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP)Maximum:2–3% of the first loanBest fit:Closing costs at 0% on 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 up to 200% of AMI

Get on DALP's email list

DALP's 0% loan reaches $500,000, and repayment adds a share of appreciation matching the loan's share of the price. The 2025 round closed June 2, 2025.

Condo under the loan ceiling

Use MyHome and ZIP now

On a condo up to about $1,294,000, MyHome can pay the 3.5% FHA down payment and ZIP adds a 0% closing-cost loan, with no lottery and a $325,000 income limit.

Lower-income saver

Ask your bank about WISH

WISH quadruples a buyer's savings, up to $32,837, when income is within 80% of AMI, and the grant carries a 5-year retention period.

Property and geography checks

MOHCD DALPWhere:City and County of San FranciscoGate:Lottery rank first; 1% buyer contribution, $80,000 asset cap after purchase, first loan at least 50% LTV
CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, MyAccessWhere:Anywhere in San FranciscoGate:A CalHFA first loan from an approved lender; income up to $325,000 for reservations from June 30, 2026
FHA and conforming loansWhere:Loan amounts up to $1,249,125Gate:At the $1,394,500 median a ceiling loan leaves $145,375 to cover before assistance
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in CA, AZ and NVGate:80% of AMI or less, counseling before enrollment, and $1 of buyer money for each $4 of grant

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 Francisco 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 on a ceiling-size FHA loan

Price$1,394,500
Down payment$145,375
Closing costs$35,000
CalHFA MyHome−$48,807
CalHFA ZIP at 2%−$24,982
Estimated gap$106,586

The $1,249,125 FHA ceiling forces about 10.4% down at this price, so state help covers less than half the cash.

A $900,000 condo with MyHome and ZIP

Price$900,000
Down payment$31,500
Closing costs$24,000
CalHFA MyHome−$31,500
CalHFA ZIP at 2%−$17,370
Estimated gap$6,630

An $868,500 CalPLUS FHA loan; the condo project needs FHA approval, and HOA dues count toward the payment.

MOHCD's DALP ratio on a $1,250,000 home

Price$1,250,000
Down payment$512,500
Closing costs$35,000
MOHCD DALP loan−$500,000
Estimated gap$47,500

MOHCD's own 40% example with a $737,500 first loan; it applies only after a lottery round reopens and the buyer is selected.

How to apply in San Francisco

  1. 1

    Attend MOHCD orientation and homebuyer education

    Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development

    City programs start with an orientation, a workshop and a meeting with a housing counselor, and DALP requires education completed through Home SF. Certificates for CalHFA can come from a HUD-approved agency.

    sf.gov

  2. 2

    Pick one MOHCD-approved lender

    A MOHCD participating lender

    Loan officers must finish MOHCD's training every year to handle DALP or City Second files. MOHCD allows one DALP reservation per household, and duplicate pre-approvals disqualify every application.

    sf.gov

  3. 3

    Sign up for the next DALP round

    Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development

    No 2026 round has been posted. When selected in a lottery, a buyer has 90 days to sign a purchase contract, then the lender has 21 days to submit the loan packet.

    sf.gov

  4. 4

    Price CalHFA loans in the meantime

    A CalHFA-approved loan officer

    Compare a CalPLUS FHA file using MyHome plus ZIP against a CalPLUS Access file using MyAccess, keeping the first loan under $1,249,125. San Francisco's CalHFA income limit is $325,000.

    877-922-5432 · calhfa.ca.gov

  5. 5

    Check City Second listings

    Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development

    City Second loans of up to $500,000 go first come, first served to buyers of resale units in listed developments, with income up to 148% of AMI and a $500,000 fund balance.

    sf.gov

Free eligibility check

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

Earthquake deductibles start at 15%

Homeowners insurance leaves out quake damage. On a home valued over $1 million, which describes the typical San Francisco property, the California Earthquake Authority's smallest deductible is 15%.

Median value tops the loan ceiling

FHA and conforming loans stop at $1,249,125 in 2026, $145,375 short of the $1,394,500 median, so house buyers often need jumbo financing or a much larger down payment.

One or two supplemental bills

Closing between January 1 and May 31 brings two supplemental tax bills; June through December brings one, so budget for them on top of the regular annual bill.

Condos and prewar buildings

Only 18.0% of the city's housing is single-family detached, and the median building dates from 1946. Expect HOA reviews, FHA condo approval checks and seismic questions.

If local funding isn't available

MOHCD's DALP is not taking applications: the 2025 round closed June 2, 2025, and no 2026 round has been posted. The city's Mortgage Credit Certificate is also suspended until funding returns. Buyers can still investigate these city, state, bank and federal routes.

City Second Loan Program

MOHCD lends up to $500,000 first come, first served for resale units in listed developments such as Parkview Heights and Holloway Terrace, with income up to 148% of AMI and a $500,000 fund balance.

CalHFA junior loans

MyHome, ZIP and MyAccess take reservations year-round through CalHFA-approved lenders, for first-time buyers with a CalHFA first loan and income up to San Francisco's $325,000 limit.

FHLBank WISH grant

Member banks reserve 4-to-1 savings matches of as much as $32,837 until March 12, 2027, for first-time buyers within 80% of AMI who finish counseling first.

Below market rate homes

MOHCD sells below market rate homes to first-time buyers through DAHLIA lotteries and a first-come listing track, with its own income limits and resale restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for San Francisco's DALP loan right now?+
No. MOHCD's 2025 application ran from March 4 to June 2, 2025, the lottery was held June 25, and no 2026 round has been posted. MOHCD says 2025 applicants may wait several months to a year to be contacted, in lottery rank order. Sign up for MOHCD emails to hear when DALP reopens.
How is a DALP loan repaid?+
Only when you sell, rent or transfer the home. DALP charges no interest and no monthly payments, but MOHCD takes back the principal plus a share of appreciation equal to the loan's share of the price. In MOHCD's example, a $500,000 loan on a $1,250,000 purchase is 40% of the price, so the city's share of appreciation is also 40%.
What does a median-value San Francisco purchase take in cash?+
About $180,375 on a $1,394,500 home with no help: a ceiling-size $1,249,125 FHA loan leaves $145,375 of down payment, and closing runs near $35,000. MyHome's 3.5% ($48,807) and a 2% ZIP loan ($24,982) cut that to about $106,586. A condo near $900,000 needs far less.
Are there city programs for SFUSD teachers?+
Yes. SFUSD educators draw DALP loans from a separate Educators-DALP fund, and MOHCD's Teacher Next Door loan adds up to $40,000 on a market-rate unit, forgiven after 10 years when program rules are met. MOHCD says Teacher Next Door is typically layered on another MOHCD loan, such as DALP or City Second.
Why did I get a second property tax bill after buying?+
Up to two supplemental bills follow a San Francisco purchase. The Assessor-Recorder reassesses the home at the sale date and bills the difference from the prior value: closings from January 1 through May 31 get two supplemental bills, and closings from June 1 through December 31 get one, separate from the regular annual bill.

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

Sources

Last verified October 21, 2026.

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