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Down Payment Assistance

Down payment assistance can cover most or all of your down payment and closing costs on a Temecula home, and you do not have to be a veteran or low-income to qualify. Several programs stack here: CalHFA's MyHome deferred loan, the statewide GSFA Platinum grant with no first-time requirement, Riverside County's first-time-buyer program, and VA or CalVet options for those who served. The hard part is matching the right program to your income, credit, and the specific address, which is exactly what a local loan officer does. Below are the programs, the rules, and the Temecula officers who run these files every week.

Loan officers who handle these programs

These local Temecula officers run CalHFA, GSFA, county, VA, and CalVet files regularly. Browsing and reaching out is free.

Jim Parker — New American Funding Residential Loan Officers NMLS #231328 Edwin Williams – PRMG, Inc PARAMOUNT RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE GROUP NMLS #1945167 Rachel Nguyen — CrossCountry Mortgage Residential Loan Officers NMLS #3029 Mariano Dowgaluk — Veterans United FHA & VA Specialists NMLS #1104979 Jessica Castro — New American Funding Bilingual Loan Officers NMLS #263246 Lending Team — New American Funding Bilingual Bilingual Loan Officers Lending Team — Navy Federal CU FHA & VA Specialists Lending Team — loanDepot Temecula Bilingual Loan Officers Lending Team — Carrington Mortgage FHA & VA Specialists Timothy DelMundo — Fairway Independent Residential Loan Officers NMLS #1169101 Thomas Paul Olson — First Lending Residential Loan Officers

Frequently asked questions

What down payment assistance is available in Temecula?

Temecula buyers can stack several programs: CalHFA's MyHome Assistance (a deferred junior loan worth up to 3.5% of the price on FHA loans, 3% on conventional), GSFA Platinum (statewide, with no first-time requirement and no purchase-price cap), Riverside County's Homeownership program for lower-income first-time buyers, plus VA and CalVet options for veterans. A local loan officer pairs the right one with your first mortgage.

How much does CalHFA MyHome provide?

MyHome is a deferred-payment second loan of up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value on CalHFA government (FHA) loans, or 3% on CalHFA conventional loans. It carries no monthly payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.

Do I have to be a first-time buyer?

For CalHFA MyHome and Riverside County's first-time program, yes. First-time generally means you have not owned and occupied a home in the last three years. GSFA Platinum is the exception: it has no first-time-buyer requirement and no purchase-price cap, so repeat buyers can qualify.

What credit score do I need for CalHFA assistance?

CalHFA sets a minimum 640 credit score for its government loan programs, and 660 for FHA under certain scenarios. Individual lender overlays vary, so a loan officer will confirm where you land before you apply.

Are there income limits?

Yes. CalHFA and county programs use income limits that vary by program and by county, and Riverside County's limits are tied to Area Median Income. CalHFA's 2026 income limits took effect June 30, 2026. Because the thresholds change and depend on household size, confirm your number with a loan officer rather than assuming.

Is homebuyer education required?

For CalHFA loans, yes. At least one occupying first-time buyer must complete a homebuyer education and counseling course and obtain a certificate of completion from an eligible provider. It is usually a few hours online and is the last box most buyers check before closing.

Can I use down payment assistance with an FHA or VA loan?

Yes. CalHFA layers MyHome on top of its CalHFA FHA and CalHFA VA first mortgages, and CalPLUS adds a Zero Interest Program (ZIP) for closing costs. Veterans can also look at CalVet, a VA-equivalent first mortgage with no monthly mortgage insurance.

Does USDA no-money-down work in Temecula?

Mostly no. USDA Rural Development offers 0% down, but the city of Temecula sits inside USDA-ineligible boundaries. Only outlying pockets like Anza, Aguanga, Sage, and the rural fringes of French Valley and Winchester tend to qualify. A loan officer can check a specific address against the USDA map.

What about California Dream For All?

The Dream For All shared-appreciation program has opened and closed in funding rounds and is not always accepting new applications. As of mid-2026 it was closed to new reservations. Watch calhfa.ca.gov/dream for the next round, and ask a loan officer to flag you when it reopens.

How do I actually get down payment assistance in Temecula?

Start with a local loan officer who runs CalHFA, GSFA, and county files regularly. They confirm which programs you qualify for, order the required homebuyer-education certificate, and layer the assistance onto your first mortgage. Browsing and contacting officers on this site is free.