California’s first-time homebuyer assistance program is opening back up.

Between today and March 16, first-generation homebuyers in California can apply for Dream for All, a down payment loan of up to $150,000, offered by the California Housing Finance Agency. A lottery system will select approximately 1,300 eligible applicants who are either buying properties on their own or in a pair.

When those borrowers resell their homes later on, the CalHFA program requires homeowners repay 15% to 20% of the appreciated value to a fund that program leaders hope will sustain Dream For All for the long run.

This will be the third round of the now 4-year-old program that launched in March 2023.

Despite enthusiasm for the loan in past years, Orange County-based mortgage officer Rajat Jetley has noticed interest taper off ahead of this third rollout, attributing the disinterest to relentlessly high home prices.

“It’s possible people have done the math and figured out even with 20% it’s still a sizable payment that they don’t feel comfortable making,” Jetley said. “It’s still outside their budget.”

More on Dream for All

—To apply for the lottery, go to calhfa.ca.gov/dream/#nextsteps

—The program is open today to March 16.

—Call 877.9.CalHFA or 1-877-922-5432 for more instructions

—Instructions are available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean and Tagalog

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