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NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Sacramento 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: Contact lender for current credit score requirements
  • A completed homebuyer education course
  • Residency: Sacramento area
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen
  • A home in Sacramento County

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 80% of area median income
  • Homes outside Sacramento 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

80% of Sacramento 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.

$124,000
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)

Where it applies

Sacramento County’s homes

  • 65% single-family
  • 6.1% townhouse
  • 7.2% 2–4 units
  • 19.2% 5+ units
  • 2.5% mobile & other

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

$534,200

Sacramento County median home value

48.4%

built before 1980

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

Questions about this program

What is NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance?

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Sacramento County, California. Down payment assistance loans and home loans for individuals/families with low to very low incomes in the Sacramento region. Also provides homebuyer education for city programs (Elk Grove, West Sacramento). Makes homeownership more affordable. no monthly payments on DPA. Funding comes from Non-profit / Federal CalHome.

Do you have to pay it back?

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance 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?

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance 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. Residency requirement: Sacramento area. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen.

What are the income limits?

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance 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?

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance caps the purchase price as follows: Contact program for current purchase price limits. 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?

NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in Sacramento County, California.

How do you apply?

Applications for NeighborWorks Sacramento - Down Payment Assistance 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.

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