California · CalHFA
Solano County Down Payment Assistance (2026)
If you are buying in Solano County, you have two layers of help available: the statewide CalHFA programs, and whatever the county, city, or a local nonprofit is funding this year. The statewide layer is always open. The local layer is bigger and quieter.
Check Solano County programs against your numbers
Income caps are set county by county and rise with household size. The Finder uses your county, not a statewide average.
Every program a Solano County buyer can use
Local, statewide, and nationwide assistance side by side.
| Program | Amount | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalHFA Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan CalHFA · California statewide | Up to $150,000 (about 20%) | Shared appreciation | California first-generation buyers who can compete for a voucher round and want to buy sooner rather than save for years. |
| GSFA Platinum Down Payment Assistance GSFA · California statewide | Up to $27,000 (about 5.5%) | Grant | California buyers who earn too much for CalHFA or who have owned a home before. |
| CalHFA MyHome Assistance CalHFA · California statewide | Up to $15,000 (about 3.5%) | Deferred second | California buyers who need a deferred second to cover the down payment without a monthly payment. |
| CalHFA Forgivable Equity Builder California Housing Finance Agency · California statewide | Up to $30,000 (about 10%) | Forgivable | Up to 10% of purchase price — fully forgiven after 5 years of owner-occupancy. |
| Chenoa Fund Down Payment Assistance Chenoa Fund · Nationwide | Up to $25,000 (about 5%) | Forgivable | Buyers in states with thin assistance, buyers with credit in the 600s, and buyers who missed their state program's funding window. |
Statewide programs available in Solano County
Every California buyer can use these, wherever in the state the home sits.
CalHFA Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan
CalHFA · California statewide
Up to $150,000 (about 20%)
Up to 20% of the purchase price toward down payment and closing costs, repaid with a share of appreciation.
Program detailsGSFA Platinum Down Payment Assistance
GSFA · California statewide
Up to $27,000 (about 5.5%)
Up to 5.5% of the loan amount as a gift or forgivable second, with no first-time buyer requirement.
Program detailsCalHFA MyHome Assistance
CalHFA · California statewide
Up to $15,000 (about 3.5%)
Up to 3.5% of price for down payment or closing costs. Deferred silent second — no monthly payment.
Program detailsCalHFA Forgivable Equity Builder
California Housing Finance Agency · California statewide
Up to $30,000 (about 10%)
Up to 10% of purchase price — fully forgiven after 5 years of owner-occupancy.
Program detailsOther California programs we track
Editorial entries we are still verifying for the program database.
MyHome Assistance Program
CalHFA · California
Deferred-payment second up to 3.5% (FHA) or 3% (Conventional) of the sales price — no monthly payment, due on sale/refi.
Program detailsDream For All Shared Appreciation Loan
CalHFA · California
Up to 20% down (capped at $150,000) — CalHFA takes a share of appreciation at sale instead of interest. Lottery-based, extremely competitive.
Program detailsCalHFA Conventional / FHA
CalHFA · California
30-year fixed first mortgages required to layer any CalHFA DPA — must go through a CalHFA-approved lender.
Program detailsHow to find local Solano County money
- Run the Finder first — it surfaces the county and city programs we have already indexed for California.
- Call the Solano County housing or community development department and ask specifically for “homebuyer assistance” and “HOME program funds.”
- Ask the city you are buying in. City money is separate from county money and can often stack.
- Ask your lender which programs they are approved to originate. A program you qualify for is useless if your lender cannot write it.
- Check the CalHFA lender list for the local branches that close the most assistance files in your area.
Ask RED: “What down payment help is available in Solano County, California?”
Ask REDPrograms written for your job
Frequently asked questions
Is there down payment assistance in Solano County?
Yes. Every buyer in Solano County can use CalHFA's statewide programs, and many counties and cities run their own assistance on top. Local programs are usually larger but restricted to specific boundaries, and they can run out of money mid-year.
What is the income limit in Solano County?
Income limits are set per county and rise with household size, so the number in Solano County is not the same as the county next door. Run the Finder with your county and household size to see where you land.
Do I have to live in Solano County to use a local program?
You have to buy in it. Local assistance follows the property, not your current address, so you can qualify for Solano County help even if you rent somewhere else today.
What is down payment assistance in Solano County?
Down payment assistance is money from a state, county, city, or nonprofit that helps cover your down payment and closing costs when you buy in Solano County. Some of it is a grant you never repay, some is a loan that is forgiven after you live in the home for a set number of years, and some is a quiet second mortgage that you settle when you sell or refinance.
Who qualifies for down payment assistance?
Most programs look at four things: your household income compared to the area median, your credit score, whether you have owned a home in the last three years, and the purchase price of the home. You also have to live in the home as your primary residence, and most programs require a short homebuyer education course.
Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?
It depends on the structure. A true grant is never repaid. A forgivable loan is erased over a set number of years as long as you stay in the home. A deferred second mortgage is repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. A repayable second has a monthly payment from day one.
Can down payment assistance be used with an FHA loan?
Yes. FHA is the most common first mortgage under an assistance program because FHA specifically allows the down payment to come from a government agency. Assistance also pairs with conventional HomeReady and Home Possible loans, and with USDA and VA at some agencies.
What are the income limits for down payment assistance?
Most programs cap household income somewhere between 80% and 150% of the area median income, and the cap usually rises with household size. Because the limit is set by county, the same salary can qualify in one county and not the next one over.
Keep reading
Related resources
- The complete California homebuyer guide
- All California assistance programs
- How much home can I afford?
- FHA loan requirements
- Conventional loan requirements
- Run my Readiness Score
- Down Payment Assistance Finder
- How to use the DPA Finder (user guide)
- The Homebuyer's Knowledge Center
- Down payment assistance explained
- Ask RED a question
ReadinessIQ is a Homebuyer Readiness Platform, not the agency that funds these programs. We publish what the agencies publish, link to the official source, and tell you when a rule is likely to change. The agency and your lender make the final call on who qualifies.