Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino) · 2026 Program Year
First-time buyer programs in Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino)
Every CalHFA, city, county, and federal first-time buyer program available in Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino) for 2026 — what they pay, who qualifies, where to apply.
Income limit
~$112,400 for a 1–2 person household (CalHFA moderate-income, Riverside / SB County 2026)
Sales-price cap
~$700,000 for existing SFR (CalHFA, Riverside / SB County 2026)
Cities covered
Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Fontana, Moreno Valley, +1
If you've never owned a home — or haven't owned in the past three years — you're a first-time buyer in the eyes of California's assistance programs. Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino) buyers in 2026 have access to a stack of state, county, and city programs that, when combined, often eliminate the down-payment hurdle entirely.
This page lists every program currently active in Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino) for the 2026 program year, with eligibility rules, dollar amounts, and direct links to the official government pages.
Available programs
CalHFA Conventional First Mortgage
30-year fixed first mortgage. IE prices typically fit comfortably under CalHFA caps.
Who qualifies
Income limits, 660+ FICO, buyer-education.
Amount
Up to county conforming limit.
CalHFA Dream For All
Shared-appreciation down payment loan.
Who qualifies
First-generation buyer.
Amount
Up to 20% of purchase price.
Riverside County Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)
County-administered deferred silent second for first-time buyers in Riverside County.
Who qualifies
Riverside County resident, income at/below 80% AMI.
Amount
Up to $50,000 deferred silent second.
San Bernardino County HOME Down Payment Assistance
Federal HOME funds for first-time SB County buyers.
Who qualifies
SB County resident, income at/below 80% AMI.
Amount
Up to $40,000 deferred silent second.
USDA Rural Development Loans
Many outer IE zip codes (Hemet, Beaumont, Banning, Phelan) qualify for USDA 100% financing.
Who qualifies
Income at/below 115% AMI, property in USDA-eligible zone.
Amount
100% financing — no down payment.
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm first-time buyer status. You qualify if you haven't owned a principal residence in the past three years. Dream For All also requires first-generation status (no parent has owned in seven years, OR you were in foster care).
- Check income against CalHFA limits. For Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino) in 2026, the moderate-income limit is approximately ~$112,400 for a 1–2 person household (CalHFA moderate-income, Riverside / SB County 2026). Limits refresh annually — verify at calhfa.ca.gov/income-limits.
- Complete HUD-approved buyer education. An 8-hour homebuyer education course is required for nearly every program. eHome America is the standard online option (~$99, ~8 hours).
- Find a CalHFA-approved lender. Only CalHFA-approved lenders can originate the first mortgage. Search the directory at calhfa.ca.gov/homeownership/lenders.
- Stack assistance. Combine the CalHFA first mortgage with MyHome (3% closing assistance), Dream For All (20% down payment loan), and any local city/county program where you qualify. Stacking is what makes the math work in Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino).
- Confirm sales-price cap. CalHFA's sales-price limit in Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino) for 2026 is approximately ~$700,000 for existing SFR (CalHFA, Riverside / SB County 2026). If the home is above this cap, CalHFA won't back it.
Key points for Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino)
- Inland Empire is the most accessible region of Southern California for first-time buyers — sub-$500K homes are widely available.
- USDA Rural Development is broadly available in the outer IE.
- The combination of CalHFA Dream For All + USDA financing can bring a Riverside/SB County home within reach with effectively zero down.
Run the numbers
Once you know which programs you qualify for, plug your specific scenario into our affordability calculator and mortgage payment calculator. The Dream For All calculatormodels the shared-appreciation cost of the state's assistance loan over your hold period.