Assistance program · California
CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP)
CalHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments, only for the closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS mortgage (FHA or conventional)
At a glance
- Kind of help
- Deferred
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Minimum credit score
- 640
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
What it gives
Source text
The CalPLUS FHA program is an FHA-insured first mortgage with a slightly higher 30 year fixed interest rate than our standard FHA program and is combined with the CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP) for closing costs. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
Occupy the property as a primary residence; non-occupant co-borrowers are not allowed. … CalHFA borrowers must complete homebuyer education counseling and obtain a certificate of completion through an eligible homebuyer counseling organization. … Meet CalHFA income limits for this program. … Who has to take this Homebuyer Education and Counseling course? Only one occupying first-time borrower on each loan transaction. - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score 640
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with FHA, Conventional
- Immigration requirement Citizenship or qualified-alien status, per the source
- Accepts ITIN? No
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies All of California
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in California
The program covers all of California. The first column is California's figure; the second runs from the lowest to the highest among its counties. Limits change by county: check yours.
The typical home value ($734,700) is higher than California's FHA limit ($546,250). An FHA loan cannot go above that limit.
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in California is $86,500.
| Figure | California | Lowest to highest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $734,700 | $224,700 (Modoc County) to $1,559,600 (San Mateo County) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $546,250 | $541,287 (Amador County) to $1,249,125 (Santa Cruz County) | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | $832,750 (Alpine County) to $1,249,125 (Santa Cruz County) | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $86,500 | $77,700 (Butte County) to $174,550 (Santa Cruz County) | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. California has 81 agencies on HUD's list, and 57 serve people in Spanish.
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Pick a mortgage it works with
According to its page, the help is used together with a FHA and Conventional loan. Each loan type has its own requirements.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 640
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
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Find a participating lender: state programs do not take applications directly; the lender reserves the assistance while processing your mortgage.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 4 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to California Housing Finance Agency.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- What is the most it gives, and how is it calculated?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- When is the second loan repaid: when I sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage?
Against the others
How it compares with California's other programs
The 5 programs we checked in California, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 5 programs in California, out of 5, that require being a first-time buyer. Its page publishes no amount with a figure; 3 of the 5 do. 3 more programs in the state give "deferred" help: MyHome Assistance Program, MyAccess Program and Low Income Purchase Assistance (LIPA) Program. It covers the whole state; one program on the list is only for a city or a county. 4 of the 5 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP)this program | Deferred | Not published | Yes | Yes | No | Statewide |
| MyHome Assistance Program | Deferred | Up to 3.5% of the price | Yes | Yes | No | Statewide |
| California Dream For All Shared Appreciation LoanClosed, per the source | Shared appreciation | Offered up to 20% of the price, capped at $150,000 | Yes | Doesn't say | No | Statewide |
| MyAccess Program | Deferred | Not published | Yes | Yes | No | Statewide |
| Low Income Purchase Assistance (LIPA) ProgramLimited funds remain, per the source | Deferred · Shared appreciation | Up to $161,000 | Yes | Yes | No | Los Angeles, Los Angeles County |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Mortgage loans
FHA loan: down payment, insurance, limits and who qualifies
How an FHA loan works: the down payment and credit score HUD requires, MIP mortgage insurance, your county limit, the home and the residency rules.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.