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Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program

Riverside County, California

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Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Deferred

No payments until the home is sold or refinanced

What is Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program?

Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Riverside County, California.

  • Federal HOME-funded deferred silent second loan for first-time low-income homebuyers in Riverside County. Income at or below 80% AMI. Complements ARPA and PLHA programs.
  • no monthly payments on DPA.
  • Funding comes from Federal HOME.

Do you have to pay it back?

Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer 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?

Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • 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: Purchase in Riverside County
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen
  • Must purchase in unincorporated Riverside County or participating city; income ≤80% AMI; deferred 0% loan; repaid at sale/refi

The program excludes

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 80% of area median income

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

What are the income limits?

Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer 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?

Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program 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?

Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program serves buyers purchasing in Riverside County, California.

How do you apply?

Applications for Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  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 buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Learn this program

Short reads on how it works, in plain language. Free, no sign-up needed to read.

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Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program, explained

A short, free course on Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program: what it is, who it is for, when it is repaid, where it applies and how to apply. Based on program data from July 2026. About ten minutes.

5 modules · About 10 minutes

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