CalHFA Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)

The CHAP offers down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers who meet specified low and moderate income limits.

How The Program Works

The CHAP provides a deferred-payment second loan – up to 2% of the purchase price, or appraised value, whichever is less – to qualified borrowers to be used for their down payment. CHAP is only available when combined with a CalHFA first mortgage loan in a CHAP-designated area (See Property Eligibility section below). This second loan cannot be combined with a HiCAP second loan.

Program Elements

Requirements

Details and Reference Sources

First-Time Homebuyer

Borrower must be a first-time homebuyer purchasing a primary residence intended for owner-occupancy.

Income Limits

Refer to CalHFA’s income limits established for the county in which the borrower is purchasing.

Sales Price Limits

Refer to CalHFA’s published sales price limits for the county in which the borrower is purchasing.

Citizenship

Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien or other qualified alien

Property Eligibility

  • Single family, one unit residence, including condo/PUD.
  • Manufactured housing must meet eligibility requirements.
  • Property must be located in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Palmdale/Lancaster Areas of Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

Available Through Approved Lenders

Refer to CalHFA’s approved lender list for a lender in your area.

Other Requirements

Must qualify for and meet the requirements of the CalHFA first mortgage loan, the lender, and the mortgage insurer/guarantor. Other program requirements may apply; please contact an approved lender for more details.

For More Information

To learn more about CHAP, contact us at:

CalHFA Homeownership Division
P.O. Box 4034 , Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: 877.9.CalHFA
Email: homeownership@calhfa.ca.gov

Homebuyers interested in applying for financing, should contact one of CalHFA's approved lenders.

CalHFA does not lend money directly to consumers. We use approved private lenders to qualify consumers and make all mortgage loans. Rates can vary depending on loan program and income level. View the sample Truth in Lending disclosure here.