Buy a home in Sacramento with less out-of-pocket cash.
Sacramento County buyers have access to several Down Payment Assistance programs, each designed to help you buy sooner and with less cash out of pocket. Each one is built as a complete path on its own with a matched first mortgage, so the smart move is picking the one whose eligibility and structure best fit your income, credit, and timeline. Sacramento also has one documented CalHFA-approved combination available for eligible buyers: SHRA PLHA or CalHome as a second, paired with a CalHFA, FHA, or conventional first mortgage. Below are the programs Sacramento buyers most commonly review, along with the specific benefit each one delivers. A preapproval consultation is the fastest way to see which single program path or CalHFA-plus-SHRA structure delivers the best monthly payment and cash-to-close for your file.
Up to 20% of purchase price, capped at $50,000. Deferred-payment second at 1% simple interest, with no monthly payment for 30 years. First-time buyer, primary residence, City or County of Sacramento single-family homes, condos, or half-plexes. First mortgage may be FHA, conventional, or CalHFA. Income limits (per SHRA): 1-person $72,050, 2-person $82,350, 3-person $92,650, 4-person $102,900, 5-person $111,150, 6-person $119,400. This is one of the documented SHRA seconds that pairs with a CalHFA first mortgage for eligible buyers. Program funding is capped, so timing matters. Source: SHRA PLHA program flyer.
Deferred-payment second offering down payment and mortgage assistance for income-eligible buyers in eligible areas of the City and County of Sacramento. Pairs with FHA, conventional, or CalHFA first mortgages. Same category as PLHA and often used as an alternative depending on the property location and current funding cycle. Confirm current availability and eligible qualified census tracts with SHRA or an SHRA-approved lender.
Deferred-payment second mortgage generally up to 3% (conventional) or 3.5% (FHA) of purchase price for eligible first-time buyers. 2026 Sacramento County household income limit: $245,000 (effective 06.30.2026, per CalHFA). No monthly payment; simple interest accrues until you sell, refinance, or pay off. Pairs with a CalHFA first mortgage. In Sacramento, MyHome is the CalHFA-side piece of the documented SHRA + CalHFA combination.
CalHFA conventional first mortgage paired with the TEAP second for eligible educators working in California public schools. This is a CalHFA-documented pairing that layers an educator-specific benefit onto the standard CalHFA structure. Eligibility, funding, and program terms are set by CalHFA and may change.
Grant of up to 5% for down payment and closing cost help, with no repayment required under program terms. Pairs with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages. No first-time-buyer requirement, so move-up buyers may also qualify. GSFA is a separate program path from CalHFA and is generally used in place of CalHFA rather than alongside it.
FHA-paired program with two structures: a forgivable second after 36 months of on-time payments, or a repayable second at a low rate. Up to 5% in assistance. A helpful option for buyers who fall outside CalHFA or SHRA income tolerance but still need down payment support on an FHA purchase.
Federal tax credit that converts a portion of your annual mortgage interest into a dollar-for-dollar reduction of federal income tax, often worth $2,000 to $4,000 per year in early loan years. In Sacramento, MCCs have been offered through both SHRA (locally administered) and GSFA (statewide). MCC funding is capped at the agency level and can be fully allocated at any given time. Confirm current 2026 SHRA MCC availability with SHRA at (916) 440-1393 and current GSFA MCC availability with a GSFA-approved lender.
CalHFA MyHome (2026 Sacramento County): household income limit $245,000 (effective 06.30.2026 per CalHFA). Applies to all CalHFA first mortgages and subordinate mortgages except Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan, which has its own limits.
SHRA PLHA (2026): household income limits by family size, from $72,050 (1-person) to $119,400 (6-person). Set at 80% of area median income for Sacramento.
GSFA Platinum: wider income tolerance than CalHFA (roughly up to $200K in Sacramento, depending on program version). No first-time buyer requirement. Confirm current thresholds with a GSFA-approved lender.
Property: SHRA PLHA covers single-family homes, condos, and half-plexes located within the City and County of Sacramento. Property must meet SHRA housing quality standards, and an Agency inspection is required.
Free 2-minute eligibility check across all Sacramento County programs. No credit pull, no obligation.
Verify current guidelines, income limits, purchase price limits, and funding availability directly with the issuing agencies. Programs are real, but they have to be matched carefully to the buyer, property, county, income limits, and current funding availability.
Source materials are publicly available agency and government resources. Program availability and guidelines may change. Always verify current guidelines with the agency or with Ken Clark Jr. before relying on them for a transaction.
Quick facts about CalHFA programs in 2026: