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The Power Is Now Media Inc. corporate office is located at th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Here is a list of home buyer eligibility requirements to help you understand whether or not you qualify for these loans. The downside of the FHA loan is that the properties eligible to be considered have to be below the FHA value levels. The FHA loan program is not available for every home on the market, and that can rule out significant regions of California where the average home price is higher. Saving up for a down payment is a major financial hurdle for some California home buyers. As a result, people are always looking for ways to buy a house with little or no money down.

The state tax rate is $1.10 per $1,000 of home value, but you could also get hit with city and county transfer taxes as well. Oakland, for example, has some of the highest transfer taxes in the nation at 1–2.5%, depending on the sale price. Since California has one of the highest average home values in the nation, your total cost to buy a house is likely to be more expensive than other states. Find AgentsIf you don't love your Clever partner agent, you can request to meet with another, or shake hands and go a different direction. We offer this because we're confident you're going to love working with a Clever Partner Agent.
Millennials Are Still a Driving Force of Today’s Buyer Demand
California makes a great home, if you can afford the monthly payments without adding financial stress to your life. The state has stunning ocean views, challenging mountain hikes and tranquil desert towns. Plus, buying a home in California isn’t just about what it can do for you now — it’s about what the investment will mean in the future.

There is a myth that buyers who use low down payment mortgage programs have a higher chance of foreclosure. The Power Is Now Media Inc. is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 with a singular focus on the acquisition, sell and management of real estate. We are advocates for homeownership, building wealth through the acquisition of real estate, and financial literacy.
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Borrowers must not earn more than the maximum household income limit set by the California Housing Finance Agency. Participants will also need to complete a homebuyer education and counseling course. In California, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 5.52% — up from 2021's historic lows. This raises the average monthly mortgage payment to $3,503 (assuming a 20% down payment at the median home value). The program is currently available to qualified buyers of single family properties located anywhere in California.

The program is intended to help military veterans who may not have had the opportunity to seek large incomes to more easily get into a home with fewer hassles. If unforeseen circumstances cause you to have to get out of your loan, you may have to pay a hefty price. Buyers emboldened by a commission rebate can make higher offers or use the funds to replenish their savings after their down payment. Prevu Real Estate offers the highest commission rebate in California, and buyers can receive up to two-thirds of the broker commission through the company’s Smart Buyer Rebate. The Conventional Loan 97 can’t be used to purchase manufactured homes. Eligible property types include single-family homes up to four units, condos, and planned developments.
California down payment assistance programs
But buying a home in California is still possible, even for first-time home buyers. Many markets are seeing frequent price drops and fewer offers, giving motivated buyers the upper hand in negotiating for the best price. FHA loans are 96.5 financing, and the home buyer must come up with the remaining 3.5% down payment either via savings or as a gift from a relative. Zero Down California™ will provide qualified homebuyers financing for the remaining 3.5% down payment at a fixed rate for 30 years. A jumbo loan is a mortgage used to finance expensive properties that won’t qualify for a conventional loan. With prices this high, you may need a jumbo loan to finance your purchase.
If you do fall behind, there is still no interest and no payments — you’ll just have to pay back the second lien when you sell or refinance the house. The chart below highlights the median down payment for first-time buyers since 1989 based on data from the National Association of Realtors . Credit score requirements will vary for each program, but the minimum score is between 660 and 680, depending on some other factors.
Ongoing costs of homeownership in California
The goal of the webinar is to help you achieve the American Dream of homeownership, while rates are low and home prices are still affordable. If you are a homeowner, you will learn about current interest rates and get all of your questions answered. Unlike the other programs above, there is a down payment element involved, but it is much lower than typical market requirements.
The median number of days it took to sell those homes was just eight — meaning listings are getting snapped up fast, in about a week. Finally, you’ll have one last visit to the home before you officially own it. Your final walk-through will likely happen just before you head to the closing. Make sure that the home is in good condition, that the owner has removed all their belongings and that the property is free of issues that could cause you back out of the agreement. Use Bankrate’s down payment calculator to determine what your budget will look like with the minimum down payment, versus how contributing more can make a difference. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
However, you might be able to qualify for assistance with the expense. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Lenders generally recommend having a debt-to-income ratio — that is, your debt divided by your income — of no more than 36–43%.

Down payment assistance programs typically have credit history and income requirements. Programs for first-time home buyers may require the completion of a mortgage education course. On the benefit side, the big bonus is the elimination of the down payment (as long as the sales price doesn’t exceed the appraisal). Additionally, VA Loan recipients enjoy very competitive borrowing rates, usually a slight bit lower than the regular market for a good credit borrower. Further, borrowers with a VA Loan don’t have to deal with mortgage insurance premiums and their closing costs are capped far smaller than a regular civilian’s cost in a purchase. Before you go for a loan that requires no money down, consider all aspects of your financial situation.
The first step is to find a top local realtor who's an expert negotiator with proven experience in your market. On the other hand, if you buy in January, you have a bit more time to search. Homes typically stay on the market 15 days longer than California's annual average. Most sellers in California will require preapproval before showing you their home. Interview multiple agents to find one who knows your target neighborhoods, has experience in your price range, and communicates well.
