Santa Cruz County Mortgage Assistance Program
Deferred second loan · New construction · Income limits
Down payment assistance · Santa Cruz County
Buying a home in Pajaro, CA
2 county programs and 54 statewide.Pajaro has no program of its own, 2 across Santa Cruz 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 Pajaro
No program of Pajaro’s own yet
No program run for Pajaro alone is listed. A home in Pajaro can use Santa Cruz County’s programs below, plus the California statewide and federal ones.
The closest city that runs its own program is Watsonville, about 1 mile away. City programs usually require the home to be inside that city’s limits.
Anywhere in Santa CruzAnywhere in Santa Cruz County
2 county programs2 county programs a Pajaro homebuyer can use
2 more programs are for homes in Watsonville. See them 2 programs in neighboring cities — for homes inside those cities, not Pajaro
- Watsonville — City of Watsonville Downpayment Assistance Program
- Watsonville — City of Watsonville First Time Homebuyers
The Pajaro marketThe Pajaro housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Pajaro
- 29.9% single-familysingle-family
- 10.6% townhousetownhouse
- 27.6% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 23.7% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 8.3% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. 1 of Pajaro’s 2 local and county programs accept condos. 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 Pajaro’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
60.2%
of Pajaro 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
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Santa Cruz County, 4-person household (2026)
$84,875
Pajaro median household incomeMedian household income in Pajaro (Census, 2024)
51 of the 118 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 nearbyFree help near Pajaro
Free help from a HUD-approved housing counselorFree help from a HUD-approved housing counselor
2 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.All 2 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.
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Across California and nationwide
116 statewide & federal programs54 statewide programs, plus federal options
Pajaro questions
Does Pajaro have its own down payment program?
No program run for Pajaro alone is listed. A home in Pajaro can use the 2 programs that cover Santa Cruz County and the 54 statewide programs. Each program’s own site has the current terms.
Can I use assistance on a condo in Pajaro?
1 of Pajaro’s 2 local and county programs accept condos. Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay lists habitat-built single-family home. 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 Santa Cruz County?
Each program sets its own. 51 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Santa Cruz 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 Pajaro?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
Nearby in Santa Cruz
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.