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My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Bakersfield, California.

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The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Contact lender for current credit score requirements
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through My Way Home homebuyer education
  • Residency: Purchase within City of Bakersfield
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen
  • Must purchase in Kern County; income ≤80% AMI; deferred CalHome-funded loan; HUD-approved counseling required
  • A home inside Bakersfield city limits

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Purchases above the $450,000 price cap
  • Households above 80% of area median income
  • Homes outside Bakersfield

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

80% of Kern 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.

$81,900
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)
Income limits in California

Where it applies

Bakersfield’s homes

  • 71.8% single-family
  • 3.4% townhouse
  • 8.4% 2–4 units
  • 13.3% 5+ units
  • 3.1% mobile & other

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

$371,700

Bakersfield median home value

34.6%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Bakersfield

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through My Way Home homebuyer education.

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Contact provider directly; subject to funding availability, 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.

Free course · 10 minMy Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program, explained

Questions about this program

What is My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program?

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Bakersfield, California. 30-year deferred loan at 2% simple annual interest for low-income first-time homebuyers earning up to 80% AMI purchasing within Bakersfield city limits. Partnership with City of Bakersfield. no monthly payments on DPA. Funding comes from City of Bakersfield / Federal HOME.

Do you have to pay it back?

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, or non-occupancy. The assistance is recorded in Second position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program 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: Contact lender for current credit score requirements. A homebuyer education course is required, through My Way Home homebuyer education. Residency requirement: Purchase within City of Bakersfield. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen. Must purchase in Kern County; income ≤80% AMI; deferred CalHome-funded loan; HUD-approved counseling required.

What are the income limits?

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Low income: household income ≤80% of Area Median Income (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?

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program caps the purchase price at $450,000. Eligible property types include Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Where does it apply?

My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Bakersfield, California.

How do you apply?

Applications for My Way Home Hope to Home - Bakersfield City Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Contact provider directly; subject to funding availability. 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.

Also for Bakersfield homebuyers

Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.

All 120 programs for Bakersfield

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