Riverside County, CA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Riverside County buyers can apply to 2 local down payment programs, with help up to $100,000 through First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) HOME Program, on top of California's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Riverside County
These are run by Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Cathedral City, Corona, Hemet, Indian Wells, Indio, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, Temecula), Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Calimesa, Corona, Menifee, Palm Desert, Perris, Rancho Mirage, Riverside), separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) HOME Program Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Cathedral City, Corona, Hemet, Indian Wells, Indio, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, Temecula) (Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS)) · source | deferred second mortgage | Up to 20% of the sales price (minimum $1,500; not to exceed $100,000); no separate closing cost assistance currently available | At or below 80% of Area Median Income (HOME FTHB); $98,400 for a family of 4, effective July 1, 2026 | Yes | Unincorporated Riverside County or a Cooperating City not on the HOME exclusion list |
| First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) PLHA Program Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Calimesa, Corona, Menifee, Palm Desert, Perris, Rancho Mirage, Riverside) (Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS)) · source | deferred second mortgage | Up to 20% of the sales price (minimum $1,500; not to exceed $100,000); no separate closing cost assistance currently available | At or below 120% of Area Median Income (PLHA FTHB); $127,800 for a family of 4, effective July 1, 2026 | Yes | Unincorporated Riverside County or a Cooperating City not on the PLHA exclusion list (7 cities excluded, including the City of Riverside itself) |
- First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) HOME Program. No monthly payments until sale or cash-out refinance of the first mortgage; after a 15-year affordability period the assistance converts to a grant requiring no repayment.
- First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) PLHA Program. Same loan mechanics as HOME FTHB (deferred, converts to grant after 15-year affordability period). Same purchase price limits as the HOME program.
Income limits in Riverside County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA (Riverside County) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $106,500 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $98,400 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
California statewide programs you can also use in Riverside County
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) (homebuyer programs page) runs 3 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in California, with down payment help up to 3.5% of the loan (about $29,890 on a median-priced home) through MyHome Assistance Program. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyHome Assistance Program source | Deferred second loan | Up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value (with a CalHFA FHA/Government first mortgage) or 3% (with a CalHFA Conventional first mortgage), for down payment and/or closing costs | Yes | n/a | Must meet CalHFA income limits for the program and county of purchase; |
| CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP) source | Deferred second loan | 2.00% or 3.00% of the CalPLUS first mortgage loan amount, for closing costs only | Yes | n/a | Must meet CalHFA income limits for the CalPLUS FHA or CalPLUS Conventional program |
| California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan Program source | Program | Up to 20% of the home purchase price for down payment or closing costs, not to exceed $150,000 | Yes | n/a | Combined household income must meet CalHFA Income Limits for the county of purchase; |
Riverside County closing costs that differ from the rest of California
Transfer tax: Countywide documentary transfer tax: $0.55 per $500 (approximately $1.10 per $1,000) of property value on conveyances over $100. Property located within the City of Riverside is taxed at DOUBLE the county rate - $1.10 per $500 (approximately $2.20 per $1,000) - per the county's own DTT information sheet, because the City of Riverside imposes its own separate transfer tax on top of the county's. Source
Owner's title policy: seller (customary in Southern California)
Recording fee figures not captured this pass; the county's Recording Requirements page was located but not read in full - confirm exact fees there before publishing.
See California closing costs, title insurance and who pays →
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Riverside County, CA?
First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) HOME Program (Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Cathedral City, Corona, Hemet, Indian Wells, Indio, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, Temecula), up to $100,000); First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) PLHA Program (Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Calimesa, Corona, Menifee, Palm Desert, Perris, Rancho Mirage, Riverside), up to $100,000). California statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Riverside County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $98,400 for a four-person household in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA (Riverside County) (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Riverside County?
Countywide documentary transfer tax: $0.55 per $500 (approximately $1.10 per $1,000) of property value on conveyances over $100. Property located within the City of Riverside is taxed at DOUBLE the county rate - $1.10 per $500 (approximately $2.20 per $1,000) - per the county's own DTT information sheet, because the City of Riverside imposes its own separate transfer tax on top of the county's.
What is the median home price in Riverside County?
About $557,300, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Riverside County, California: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year Estimate). Down payment help of up to $100,000 covers roughly 18% of that price.
Official sources
- Riverside County unincorporated areas + Cooperating Cities (excludes Cathedral City, Corona, Hemet, Indian Wells, Indio, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, Temecula): First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) HOME Program
- HUD income limits
- Riverside County transfer tax
- Riverside County recording fees
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts - Riverside County, California: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year Estimate)
Riverside County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Other California counties
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties