Merced County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program
Deferred second loan · New construction · Income limits
Down payment assistance · Merced County
Buying a home in Atwater, CA
1 county program and 54 statewide.Atwater has no program of its own, 1 across Merced County, and 54 statewide. Here is what each one offers, what the local market looks like, and who near you can walk you through it.
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What’s local to Atwater
No program of Atwater’s own yet
No program run for Atwater alone is listed. A home in Atwater can use Merced County’s programs below, plus the California statewide and federal ones.
The closest city that runs its own program is Merced, about 8 miles away. City programs usually require the home to be inside that city’s limits.
Anywhere in MercedAnywhere in Merced County
1 county program1 county program a Atwater homebuyer can use
1 more program is for homes in Merced. See them 1 program in neighboring cities — for homes inside those cities, not Atwater
- Merced — City of Merced First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance
The Atwater marketThe Atwater housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Atwater
- 67% single-familysingle-family
- 3.3% townhousetownhouse
- 13.2% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 10.4% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 6.1% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. Atwater’s one local program accepts condos.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Atwater’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
46.4%
of Atwater homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
$75,800
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Merced County, 4-person household (2026)
$64,472
Atwater median household incomeMedian household income in Atwater (Census, 2024)
51 of the 117 programs here set their income limit as a share of Merced County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Merced County
Free help nearbyFree help near Atwater
Free help from a HUD-approved housing counselorFree help from a HUD-approved housing counselor
Atwater’s program asks for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.Merced County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program asks for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
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Across California and nationwide
116 statewide & federal programs54 statewide programs, plus federal options
Atwater questions
Does Atwater have its own down payment program?
No program run for Atwater alone is listed. A home in Atwater can use the 1 program that cover Merced County and the 54 statewide programs. Each program’s own site has the current terms.
Can I use assistance on a condo in Atwater?
Atwater’s one local program accepts condos. Each program’s page lists the kinds of homes it accepts, and the agency confirms it for the home you choose.
What is the income limit in Merced County?
Each program sets its own. 51 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Merced County, adjusted for household size. HUD publishes the median each year; the 2026 figure is shown above and on the published limits page.
Where can I take a homebuyer class near Atwater?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
ZIP codes
95301 · 95342
Nearby in Merced
Sources
Sources: agency sites (June–August 2026), Census ACS 2024 5-year, HUD FY2026, HUD counseling list. Hey Prescott is not a lender.Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (June–August 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.