Down Payment Assistance Programs Compared — Downey & Southeast LA County

by Orlando Garcia

Orlando Garcia, REALTOR® | The GO Team Real Estate Services | HomeSmart Realty Group

Down Payment Assistance Programs Compared — Downey & Southeast LA County

Last updated: June 2026

If you're a first-time buyer in Downey or the surrounding area, you may qualify for more than one down payment assistance program. The programs are different in important ways — how much they give you, where you can use them, and what you owe when you eventually sell. Here's a plain-English comparison to help you understand the differences.

Quick Comparison Table

Program	Who Runs It	Max Assistance	Income Limit	Repayment	Available In	Shared Equity?
CalHFA MyHome	State of California	3–3.5% of purchase price	$211,000 (LA County)	Deferred, 0% interest	All of California	No
LACDA HOP80	LA County	$100,000 or 20% of price	~80% AMI	Deferred, 0% interest	LA County	Yes
LACDA HOP100	LA County	$85,000 or 20% of price	~100% AMI (~$133K for family of 4)	Deferred, 0% interest	LA County	Yes
Norwalk CalHome	City of Norwalk	$200,000 (40% of price)	LA County HCD limits	Deferred, 0% interest	City of Norwalk only	No

The Key Differences to Understand

CalHFA MyHome

Percentage-based, not dollar-capped. Works statewide. No shared equity — when you sell, you repay the original loan amount and keep all the appreciation. Requires a CalHFA-approved lender, which means not every mortgage company can do this loan. Great for buyers who want simplicity, a relatively high income limit ($211,000), and no shared appreciation clause.

The limitation: it's percentage-based, so on a $600,000 home it gives you $18,000–$21,000. That might not cover everything you need. It's often most powerful when combined with other programs.

LACDA (HOP80 and HOP100)

Dollar-capped at $85,000 or $100,000, which can be very generous on lower-priced homes. Shared equity is the tradeoff — when you sell, LACDA gets back their proportional share of the current value, not just the original loan amount. Works across LA County. Two tiers based on income.

Best for lower-income buyers who need the largest dollar amount upfront and are comfortable with the shared equity structure. Income limits are lower than CalHFA, so some buyers won't qualify.

Norwalk CalHome

City-specific but extremely generous. Up to $200,000 is the highest cap of any program in this comparison. No shared equity — you keep all your appreciation. Only works if you're buying a property within Norwalk city limits.

Best for buyers who are open to Norwalk and need the maximum dollar assistance. If the city works for your life and you qualify on income, this program is hard to beat on a pure dollar basis.

Which Program Is Right for You?

That depends on three things: where you're buying, your household income, and how much cash you need.

If you're buying in Downey: CalHFA and LACDA are your primary options. They can often be combined — CalHFA for the first mortgage structure, LACDA for additional junior loan assistance. See the stacking guide for how that works.

If you're buying in Norwalk: All three programs may be available to you. CalHome alone could cover most or all of your down payment. That's a different conversation than Downey buyers are having — and a strong reason to keep Norwalk on your search list.

If your income is lower (under 80–100% AMI): LACDA HOP80 or HOP100 might provide more dollar assistance than CalHFA alone. The shared equity tradeoff is worth understanding before you decide.

If your income is higher (up to $211,000): CalHFA may be your only option since LACDA has lower income caps. The income limit is still high enough to help the majority of working households in the area.

If you want to keep all your appreciation when you sell: CalHFA and Norwalk CalHome both have no shared equity component. LACDA does.

Income limits are per household, not per person. A two-income household needs to add both incomes together to determine eligibility. A couple each earning $70,000 has a combined household income of $140,000 — which may put them over the LACDA limit but still under CalHFA's $211,000 ceiling.

Can You Use More Than One?

Sometimes. CalHFA is specifically designed to layer with other programs. The CalHFA first mortgage product can serve as the base, with MyHome covering the down payment percentage, and a LACDA junior loan potentially providing additional assistance on top of that.

Norwalk CalHome is city-specific and has its own rules about what it can be combined with. If you're buying in Norwalk, we'd verify compatibility before building a strategy around multiple programs.

Seller concessions are also a key part of the picture. Negotiating seller-paid closing costs on top of assistance programs is legal, common, and often the piece that brings your total cash-to-close down to a manageable number.

Program availability and funding change. This comparison reflects current program structures as of mid-2026. Income limits, assistance amounts, and funding status are all subject to change. Always verify current figures and funding availability before building your purchase strategy around a specific program. Call me and I'll tell you what's current.