CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program.
The flagship CalHFA program. A deferred-payment, simple-interest junior loan for down payment and/or closing costs — 3.5% of the sales price or appraised value (whichever is less) on FHA and CalPLUS FHA, and 3.0% on conventional, VA and USDA. It is not a grant and not forgivable. Principal and interest become due at transfer of title, sale, payoff or refinance of the first loan. The current note rate publishes on CalHFA’s daily rate sheet; we confirm it on your file rather than quoting a number that moves. Pairs with CalHFA FHA, CalPLUS FHA, CalHFA/CalPLUS Conventional, USDA and VA. Income limits scale by county — roughly $192,000 in Fresno and Kern up to $325,000 in San Francisco and Santa Clara (effective 06/30/2026). CalHFA sets no sales price limit.
MyHome is the workhorse — it's the first program we model on virtually every CalHFA-eligible file.
CalPLUS With ZIP, And MyAccess.
Two closing-cost and down-payment layers that ride on top of a CalHFA first. ZIP is zero-interest and deferred for the life of the loan, sized at 2.00% or 3.00% of the first mortgage — but it is closing costs only, cannot be used for down payment, and since May 2025 requires MyHome underneath it. MyAccess is newer: 2.50% of the first mortgage, deferred at 1.00% simple interest, usable for down payment or closing costs, paired with CalPLUS Access. Both sit in third position behind MyHome. Neither is forgiven — both are repaid at sale, refinance, or payoff.
CalHFA Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan.
The 2026 round is closed. Pre-registration ran February 24 to March 16, 2026, and selection was a randomized drawing rather than first-come-first-served. No new window has been announced. When it reopens: up to $150,000 or 20% of the price, in exchange for a share of future appreciation — the share equals the loan amount as a percentage of home value, reduced to 0.75× for borrowers at or below 80% AMI, and capped at 2.5× the original principal. All borrowers must be first-time buyers, at least one must be first-generation, and MyHome cannot be combined. We track the announcement and tell clients when registration opens.
GSFA Platinum Program.
A non-CalHFA alternative through Golden State Finance Authority, and the structure is commonly misdescribed. The standard Platinum second is an amortizing 15-year second mortgage with monthly payments, at the same note rate as your first — not a grant and not forgivable. The Assist-to-Own variant uses a deferred second instead. Only the optional gift layer is non-repayable, and it is subject to market conditions. Sizing runs up to 5.50% on FHA, VA and USDA and 5.00% on conventional; minimum 640 FICO; first-time buyer status is not required. Through August 31, 2026 the “Select” promotion is open to all eligible borrowers regardless of occupation.
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC).
An MCC is a federal tax credit — not a deduction — on a portion of the mortgage interest you pay each year, for the life of the loan. CalHFA no longer issues new MCCs; it only reissues existing certificates on a refinance. A CalHFA loan can still carry an MCC issued by another agency, such as a county, city or GSFA, and the credit may not be used to help you qualify. We check whether an active issuer serves your county before we put it in a plan.
VA Loans In California.
California has 1.8 million veterans — the largest veteran population in the U.S. Major installations: Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego, MCAS Miramar, Travis AFB, Naval Base Coronado, Vandenberg SFB. The 2026 baseline VA loan limit is $832,750; most major coastal counties (LA, Orange, SF, San Mateo, Marin, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Diego) hit the high-cost ceiling of $1,249,125. Full-entitlement veterans buy at any price with $0 down.
Jumbo & Non-QM In California.
Above the $1.25M ceiling, California runs the deepest jumbo market in America. Our portfolio bench has appetite for tech-employee files (with RSU-heavy compensation), Asian-investor files (with foreign-asset documentation), and entertainment-industry files (with multi-stream creative income). Pledged-asset programs are routinely used in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.