Santa Cruz County Mortgage Assistance Program
Deferred second loan · New construction · Income limits
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jul 2026
Down payment assistance · California
Buying a home in Santa Cruz County, CA
2 county-wide programs, 1 city with their own, plus 43 statewide and 62 nationwide.Santa Cruz has 2 programs that cover the whole county and 1 city 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 Santa CruzAnywhere in Santa Cruz County
2 programs for every Santa Cruz address2 programs that cover every Santa Cruz address
All 2 are for first-time homebuyers and ask for a homebuyer class.These are run for the whole county, so a home in Watsonville, Santa Cruz or Live Oak can use them. All 2 are for first-time homebuyers and ask for a homebuyer class.
Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limit 60% of AMI
Habitat-built single-family home
See details Jul 2026
AMI is HUD’s area median income for Santa Cruz, adjusted for household size. Each program publishes its own dollar limits.
Only inside city limits
1 city with their own program1 Santa Cruz city with their own program
For a home inside that city, on top of the county-wide 2.A city program is for a home inside that city. Buying there? It sits on top of the 2 county-wide programs above.
The Santa Cruz marketThe Santa Cruz housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat kinds of homes are here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Santa Cruz
- 63.3% single-familysingle-family
- 8.5% townhousetownhouse
- 8.4% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 12.9% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 6.8% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. 1 of the 2 county-wide programs and all 2 city programs list condos as eligible. Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay lists habitat-built single-family home.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Santa Cruz’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
63.4%
of Santa Cruz 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.
$137,200
HUD area median income, 4 people (FY2026)HUD area median income, Santa Cruz County, 4-person household (FY2026)
$111,093
Median household income (ACS 2024 5-year)Median household income in Santa Cruz (Census ACS 2024 5-year)
59.9%
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. 44 of the 109 programs here set their income limit as a share of Santa Cruz County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Santa Cruz County
Free help in Santa CruzFree help in Santa Cruz
Free help from a HUD-approved housing counselorFree help from a HUD-approved housing counselor
4 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.All 4 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
25 cities and placesA to Z
All cities in Santa Cruz CountyAll 25 cities and places in Santa Cruz County
has a program of its own
Santa Cruz questions
Can I use a county program anywhere in Santa Cruz?
The 2 county-wide programs cover homes anywhere in the county. City programs, like Watsonville’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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz programs accept condos?
1 of the 2 county-wide programs and all 2 city programs list condos as eligible. Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay lists habitat-built single-family home. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
Where can I take a homebuyer class in Santa Cruz?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes. 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.