Sacramento Region · 2026 Program Year
First-time buyer programs in Sacramento Region
Every CalHFA, city, county, and federal first-time buyer program available in Sacramento Region for 2026 — what they pay, who qualifies, where to apply.
Income limit
~$132,000 for a 1–2 person household (CalHFA moderate-income, Sacramento County 2026)
Sales-price cap
~$700,000 for existing SFR (CalHFA sales-price limit, Sacramento County 2026)
Cities covered
Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, Citrus Heights
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. Sacramento Region 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 Sacramento Region 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 conventional first mortgage. Sacramento's CalHFA limits are lower than coastal CA, but so are home prices — most Sacramento listings under $700K qualify.
Who qualifies
Income limits, FICO 660+, buyer-education.
Amount
Up to county conforming limit.
CalHFA Dream For All
Shared-appreciation down payment assistance.
Who qualifies
First-generation buyer.
Amount
Up to 20% of purchase price.
Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) Mortgage Credit Certificate
Federal mortgage interest tax credit; SHRA also operates the Mortgage Assistance Program for low-income buyers.
Who qualifies
First-time buyer, income at or below 120% AMI.
Amount
Up to ~$2,000/yr federal tax credit + up to $75,000 in deferred loan funds.
CalHome Program
State funds administered locally for down payment / closing cost assistance.
Who qualifies
Low- and moderate-income first-time buyers.
Amount
Up to $100,000 deferred silent second (varies by jurisdiction).
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 Sacramento Region in 2026, the moderate-income limit is approximately ~$132,000 for a 1–2 person household (CalHFA moderate-income, Sacramento 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 Sacramento Region.
- Confirm sales-price cap. CalHFA's sales-price limit in Sacramento Region for 2026 is approximately ~$700,000 for existing SFR (CalHFA sales-price limit, Sacramento County 2026). If the home is above this cap, CalHFA won't back it.
Key points for Sacramento Region
- Sacramento's lower median price (~$525K) means most listings fit under CalHFA's sales-price cap — more inventory is eligible than in coastal CA.
- SHRA's MAP program can fund a meaningful share of a Sacramento down payment.
- CalHFA Dream For All works particularly well in Sacramento because the 20% figure equates to ~$100K on a median home — manageable for the state to fund.
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.