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GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees is a grant for homebuyers in San Diego County, California.

Last verified

The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Minimum 640 FICO score required for all borrowers
  • A completed homebuyer education course
  • Residency: Must occupy as primary residence
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen
  • Must be employed by participating county government; up to 5.5% of first mortgage as DPA (3.5% deferred loan + up to 2% grant); no first-time buyer requirement
  • A home in San Diego County

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Purchases above the $1.1M price cap
  • Households above 200% of area median income
  • Homes outside San Diego County

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

Income limit

200% of San Diego County’s area median income

HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.

$130,900
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)

Where it applies

San Diego County’s homes

  • 50% single-family
  • 10% townhouse
  • 7% 2–4 units
  • 29.5% 5+ units
  • 3.4% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$854,700

San Diego County median home value

49.5%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in San Diego County

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program before funds are reserved.

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through GSFA lender portal, and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees is a grant for homebuyers in San Diego County, California. GSFA Assist-to-Own for San Diego County public employees. Up to 4% grant, no repayment required. Up to 4.0% of purchase price in assistance. non-repayable grant. Funding comes from GSFA.

Do you have to pay it back?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees is structured as a grant, so it is not repaid. Repayment is triggered by N/A (non-repayable grant). The assistance is recorded in N/A (grant - no lien) position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time homebuyer" usually means not having owned a home in the last three years, but the program sets its own definition. On credit, the program states: Minimum 640 FICO score required for all borrowers. A homebuyer education course is required. Residency requirement: Must occupy as primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen. Must be employed by participating county government; up to 5.5% of first mortgage as DPA (3.5% deferred loan + up to 2% grant); no first-time buyer requirement.

What are the income limits?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees limits household income to 200% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Workforce/moderate income: household income ≤200% AMI. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees caps the purchase price at $1.1M. Eligible property types include Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees is limited to employees of Employees of GSFA Member Counties. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees serves homebuyers purchasing in San Diego County, California.

How do you apply?

Applications for GSFA Assist-to-Own - San Diego County Employees go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through GSFA lender portal. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.