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

San Jose CA Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

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See which down payment assistance still works in San José now that local loan pools are spent, and what CalHFA and WISH cover at a $1,233,200 median.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$1,233,200
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$36,996
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$25k–$37k
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: San José has no city loan, and Housing Trust Silicon Valley's county funds are fully committed, so CalHFA carries the load. Its Santa Clara County income limit is $325,000, and an FHA loan at the $1,233,200 median fits under the 2026 ceiling.

State

CalHFA MyHome Assistance

Up to 3.5% of the price

The one large deferred loan still open to San José buyers year-round, at as much as 3.5% of the price under a $325,000 income limit.

State

CalHFA Zero Interest

2% or 3% of the first loan

On a loan near $1.19 million, ZIP's 2% or 3% puts about $23,800 to $35,700 toward closing costs at 0%.

Bank grant

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

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

Lower-income savers can turn about $8,200 of their own money into a $32,837 grant through a member bank before March 12, 2027.

Plan the cash

What buying in San Jose costs

Median home value$1,233,200
3% down payment$36,996
Estimated closing costs$24,500–$37,000
Estimated cash before assistance$61,496–$73,996

Estimate only, not a quote. A $1,233,200 San José purchase: escrow and title, lender and appraisal fees, inspections, first-year insurance and a property tax impound.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in San Jose

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:Savers at 80% of AMI banking with a memberRepayment / 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:Putting another 2.5% toward the down paymentRepayment / limit:Deferred with interest, due on transfer
CalHFA MyHome Assistance ProgramMaximum:Up to 3.5% of the priceBest fit:Covering an FHA down payment on a San José houseRepayment / 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% 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

First-time buyer, any income

Build the plan around CalHFA

MyHome can pay 3.5% of the price, and ZIP layers a closing-cost loan sized from the day's rate sheet, under a Santa Clara County income ceiling of $325,000 for 2026.

Lower-income saver

Reserve WISH through your bank

WISH turns each dollar you save into four, up to $32,837, when household income is within 80% of AMI. The member bank must reserve the grant before March 12, 2027.

Buying above the median

Watch the $1,249,125 loan ceiling

FHA and conforming loans stop at $1,249,125 in 2026, so past about $1,294,000 an FHA buyer needs more than 3.5% down, and MyHome's percentage can't fill the whole gap.

Property and geography checks

CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, MyAccessWhere:All of Santa Clara CountyGate:A CalHFA first loan from an approved lender, 640 credit, income up to $325,000 (June 30, 2026)
FHA with CalPLUSWhere:Loans up to the 2026 ceilingGate:First loan can't pass $1,249,125, so homes above about $1,294,000 need a larger down payment
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in CA, AZ and NVGate:80% of AMI or less, counseling first, buyer adds $1 for every $4; funds go first come
Dream For AllWhere:Statewide, 2026 voucher holders onlyGate:Santa Clara County income limit $310,000; vouchers came from the drawing that closed March 16

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 Jose 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 San José house with MyHome and ZIP

Price$1,233,200
Down payment$43,162
Closing costs$30,000
CalHFA MyHome−$43,162
CalHFA ZIP at 2%−$23,801
Estimated gap$6,199

A $1,190,038 CalPLUS FHA loan, $59,087 under the 2026 ceiling; a 3% ZIP day would leave almost nothing to bring.

A $750,000 condo with MyHome and MyAccess

Price$750,000
Down payment$26,250
Closing costs$20,000
CalHFA MyHome−$26,250
CalHFA MyAccess at 2.5%−$18,094
Estimated gap$1,906

A $723,750 CalPLUS Access FHA loan; MyAccess replaces ZIP here, and HOA dues count in the payment.

WISH grant on a $700,000 townhome

Price$700,000
Down payment$35,000
Closing costs$19,000
FHLBank WISH match−$32,837
Estimated gap$21,163

5% down with a member bank's first loan; the buyer's required $8,210 match sits inside the $21,163 they bring.

How to apply in San Jose

  1. 1

    Take a class Project Sentinel or CalHFA accepts

    Project Sentinel or eHome

    The city's homebuyer page points to Project Sentinel for homebuyer education. CalHFA requires a certificate from eHome online, NeighborWorks America or a HUD-approved agency for one first-time buyer, valid for a year.

    sanjoseca.gov

  2. 2

    Get a CalHFA-approved loan officer

    California Housing Finance Agency

    Only CalHFA-approved lenders can reserve MyHome, ZIP or MyAccess. Ask for CalPLUS FHA with ZIP beside CalPLUS Access with MyAccess, and compare the day's ZIP percentage.

    877-922-5432 · calhfa.ca.gov

  3. 3

    Ask a member bank to reserve WISH

    An FHLBank San Francisco member bank

    When income is within 80% of AMI, the bank enrolls you and reserves the grant; applications close at 5:00 pm Pacific on March 12, 2027.

    assets.fhlbsf.com

  4. 4

    Join Housing Trust's contact list

    Housing Trust Silicon Valley

    Empower Homebuyers SCC is fully subscribed and HELP shows all funds allocated, but the Housing Trust emails its list when programs reopen and holds free homebuyer workshops.

    408-703-3837 ext. 301, homebuyer@housingtrustsv.org · housingtrustsv.org

Free eligibility check

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

15% earthquake deductible above $1 million

Homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage. The California Earthquake Authority's lowest deductible on a home valued over $1 million is 15%, and the San José median is $1,233,200.

Loan ceiling near the median

FHA and conforming loans top out at $1,249,125 in 2026. An FHA loan at the $1,233,200 median clears it by $59,087, but pricier homes need jumbo financing or more cash.

Property tax resets at purchase

The typical San José owner paid $9,393 in property tax (Census), near 0.76% of the median value, but a sale triggers reassessment, so plan on your price rather than the seller's bill.

1970s houses and condos

Half of San José's homes date from 1976 or earlier, and 51.3% are single-family detached. Older houses may need seismic or system work; FHA condos need project approval.

If local funding isn't available

San José's Housing Department offers no city-funded purchase loan; its homebuyer page refers buyers to CalHFA, Housing Trust Silicon Valley and Project Sentinel. Housing Trust's Empower Homebuyers SCC is fully subscribed and HELP shows all funds allocated (October 2026). Buyers can still investigate these state, bank and federal routes.

CalHFA junior loans

MyHome, ZIP and MyAccess take reservations all year through CalHFA-approved lenders. Each one requires a CalHFA first mortgage, homebuyer education and household income no higher than Santa Clara County's $325,000 limit for 2026.

FHLBank WISH grant

Member banks reserve these grants until March 12, 2027. Each dollar a buyer saves draws four more, up to $32,837, when household income is within 80% of AMI and counseling is done first.

Federal low-down loans

FHA needs 3.5% down and loans up to $1,249,125 in 2026. VA can finance the full price for eligible veterans, and HomeReady or Home Possible take 3% from lower-income borrowers.

Housing Trust's reopening list

Housing Trust Silicon Valley emails its contact list when Santa Clara County programs take new applications. Its open Home Access loan covers only homes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, so it doesn't reach San José addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the City of San José offer down payment assistance?+
No. The Housing Department's homebuyer page does not list a city loan; it refers buyers to CalHFA, Housing Trust Silicon Valley and Project Sentinel. For a first-time buyer today, CalHFA's MyHome, ZIP and MyAccess and the FHLBank WISH grant are the open options, along with FHA, VA, HomeReady and Home Possible financing.
Is Housing Trust Silicon Valley taking new applications?+
Not for Santa Clara County homes right now. Empower Homebuyers SCC is fully subscribed and no longer accepting applications, and HELP lists all funds allocated. The Housing Trust's Home Access loan is open but limited to homes in Alameda or Contra Costa County. Join its contact list to hear when county funding returns.
What does a median-value San José purchase take in cash?+
About $73,162 before help on a $1,233,200 home with 3.5% FHA down and $30,000 of estimated closing costs. MyHome can pay the $43,162 down payment and ZIP at 2% adds $23,801, leaving about $6,199 plus prepaid items. The FHA loan in that example is $1,190,038, inside the 2026 ceiling.
Can FHA finance a San José home priced above the median?+
Only up to a $1,249,125 loan, the 2026 FHA and conforming ceiling. With 3.5% down that covers a price of about $1,294,000; above it, the buyer adds cash to keep the loan at the limit or moves to jumbo financing, which CalHFA's junior loans don't pair with.
Why does earthquake coverage cost more on a San José house?+
Usually because the median value passes $1 million. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage, and the California Earthquake Authority's lowest deductible for a home valued above $1 million is 15% of dwelling coverage, while cheaper homes can choose 5%. Insurers must offer the coverage, so compare deductible choices before setting a budget.

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

Sources

Last verified October 21, 2026.

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