San Diego County Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program
Mortgage credit certificate · New construction · Income limit 115% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jul 2026
Down payment assistance · California
Buying a home in San Diego County, CA
5 county-wide programs, 10 cities with their own, plus 43 statewide and 62 nationwide.San Diego has 5 programs that cover the whole county and 10 cities with a program of their own. On top of those, 43 statewide and 62 nationwide programs are open here. Start with your city or ZIP to see which apply to the home you want.
Free · No credit pull · No SSN
Anywhere in San DiegoAnywhere in San Diego County
5 programs for every San Diego address5 programs that cover every San Diego address
These are run for the whole county, so a home in San Diego, Chula Vista or Oceanside can use them.
GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limit 200% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jun 2026
GSFA Platinum Grant - San Diego County Specific
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limit 160% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jun 2026
San Diego County DCCA (Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance) Program
Deferred second loan · New construction · Income limit 80% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jun 2026
San Diego Habitat for Humanity - Homeownership Program
Down-payment assistance · New construction · Income limit 80% of AMI
Habitat-built single-family home
See details Jul 2026
AMI is HUD’s area median income for San Diego, adjusted for household size. Each program publishes its own dollar limits.
Only inside city limits
10 cities with their own program10 San Diego cities with their own program
For a home inside that city, on top of the county-wide 5.A city program is for a home inside that city. Buying there? It sits on top of the 5 county-wide programs above.
Chula VistaCity page City of Chula Vista First-Time Homebuyer ProgramEl CajonCity page City of El Cajon First-Time Homebuyer ProgramEscondidoCity page City of Escondido First-Time Homebuyer AssistanceLa MesaCity page City of La Mesa First-Time Homebuyer AssistanceNational CityCity page City of National City First-Time Homebuyer ProgramOceansideCity page City of Oceanside First-Time Homebuyer ProgramPowayCity page City of Poway Supporting Home Ownership in Poway (SHOP) ProgramSan DiegoCity page SDHC First-Time Homebuyer Middle-Income ProgramSDHC H.O.P.E. Teacher Grant (San Diego & Poway USD)San Diego Community Land Trust - Affordable HomeownershipSan Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) Section 8 Homeownership ProgramUrban League of San Diego County HOPE Teacher Housing Grant ProgramSan MarcosCity page City of San Marcos First-Time Homebuyer AssistanceVistaCity page City of Vista First-Time Homebuyer Program
The San Diego marketThe San Diego housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat kinds of homes are here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in San Diego
- 50% single-familysingle-family
- 10% townhousetownhouse
- 7% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 29.5% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 3.4% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. 4 of the 5 county-wide programs and 13 of the 14 city programs list condos as eligible. San Diego Habitat for Humanity - Homeownership Program lists habitat-built single-family home. City of Poway Supporting Home Ownership in Poway (SHOP) Program lists single-family.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When San Diego’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
49.5%
of San Diego 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.
$130,900
HUD area median income, 4 people (FY2026)HUD area median income, San Diego County, 4-person household (FY2026)
$106,268
Median household income (ACS 2024 5-year)Median household income in San Diego (Census ACS 2024 5-year)
54.6%
of occupied homes are owner-occupied (California: 55.9%)
The two income figures measure different things. HUD’s area median income is the one programs use. 60 of the 124 programs here set their income limit as a share of San Diego County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for San Diego County
Free help in San DiegoFree help in San Diego
10 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in the county10 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies with an office in San Diego County
18 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.18 of the 19 local programs here ask 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.
Find my counselor
Free account → 90-second match → your counselors · Sign in
Counted from HUD’s list of approved agencies: active offices whose ZIP code is in San Diego County.
48 cities and placesA to Z
All cities in San Diego CountyAll 48 cities and places in San Diego County
has a program of its own
- Alpine
- Bonita
- Bonsall
- Borrego Springs
- Bostonia
- Camp Pendleton North
- Camp Pendleton South
- Campo
- Carlsbad
- Casa de Oro-Mount Helix
- Chula Vista
- Coronado
- Crest
- Del Mar
- Descanso
- El Cajon
- Encinitas
- Escondido
- Eucalyptus Hills
- Fairbanks Ranch
- Fallbrook
- Granite Hills
- Harbison Canyon
- Hidden Meadows
- Imperial Beach
- Jamul
- Julian
- La Mesa
- La Presa
- Lakeside
- Lemon Grove
- National City
- Oceanside
- Pine Valley
- Poway
- Rainbow
- Ramona
- Rancho San Diego
- Rancho Santa Fe
- San Diego
- San Diego Country Estates
- San Marcos
- Santee
- Solana Beach
- Spring Valley
- Valley Center
- Vista
- Winter Gardens
San Diego questions
Can I use a county program anywhere in San Diego?
The 5 county-wide programs cover homes anywhere in the county. City programs, like Chula Vista’s and El Cajon’s, are only for homes inside that city’s limits. Each agency sets its own rules, so confirm on the program’s official site.
Can I combine a county program with a city program?
Sometimes. Combining ("stacking") programs is set by each administering agency, and some do not allow a second program on the same home. Each program’s page links to the agency that can say.
What is the area median income in San Diego County?
HUD publishes it once a year; the 2026 four-person figure is shown above. Programs set their limits as a share of it, adjusted for household size, and the published limits page lists each one.
Do San Diego programs accept condos?
4 of the 5 county-wide programs and 13 of the 14 city programs list condos as eligible. San Diego Habitat for Humanity - Homeownership Program lists habitat-built single-family home. City of Poway Supporting Home Ownership in Poway (SHOP) Program lists single-family. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
Where can I take a homebuyer class in San Diego?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 10 agencies have an office in San Diego County. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
Keep exploring
Sources
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), tables B01003, B25077, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B19013. Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.