Sacramento County, CA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Sacramento County has no county-run down payment program open right now; buyers here rely on California's statewide programs (the local programs below are closed or waitlisted). Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Sacramento County
These are run by City and County of Sacramento, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CalHome First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program Funds depleted City and County of Sacramento (Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA)) · source | deferred payment second mortgage, 3% simple interest | 20% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $40,000 (minimum loan $10,000) | Low income, defined as at or below 80% of Area Median Income adjusted for household size | Yes | Single-family homes in eligible (qualified census tract) areas of the City of Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County; |
- CalHome First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program. Status: closed / funding depleted - SHRA's own program page states funding has been depleted for both the City and County of Sacramento since March 8, 2017 SHRA's public program page appears not to have been updated since the 2017 funding depletion notice (income limits and the $344,000 price cap look like 2016/2017-era figures).
Income limits in Sacramento County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area (Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado counties) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $124,000 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $105,100 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 Sacramento 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; |
Sacramento County closing costs that differ from the rest of California
Transfer tax: Sacramento County documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of value (equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000), payable countywide. The City of Sacramento levies its own separate municipal real property transfer tax of $2.75 per $1,000 on top of the county tax (i.e., a combined $3.85 per $1,000 within city limits); the city tax is collected by the city, not the county recorder, and the county receives no DTT revenue on city-of-Sacramento transactions. Source
Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder maintains a current fee schedule at the URL above.
See California closing costs, title insurance and who pays →
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Sacramento County, CA?
No county-run program is open right now. Buyers in Sacramento County use California's statewide programs; see the California page.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Sacramento County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $105,100 for a four-person household in Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area (Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado counties) (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 Sacramento County?
Sacramento County documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of value (equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000), payable countywide. The City of Sacramento levies its own separate municipal real property transfer tax of $2.75 per $1,000 on top of the county tax (i.e., a combined $3.85 per $1,000 within city limits); the city tax is collected by the city, not the county recorder, and the county receives no DTT revenue on city-of-Sacramento transactions.
What is the median home price in Sacramento County?
About $534,200, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Sacramento County, California - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year).
Official sources
- City and County of Sacramento: CalHome First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program
- HUD income limits
- Sacramento County transfer tax
- Sacramento County recording fees
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Sacramento County, California - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year)
Sacramento 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