Buying your first home in California can feel overwhelming, especially in high-cost areas like Santa Clara County. But there are two major down payment assistance programs designed to make homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers: the California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan Program and the Empower Homebuyers SCC Program.

Here’s what each program offers, how to qualify, and what buyers should expect as they navigate these opportunities.

California Dream For All: What It Is & How It Helps First-Time Buyers

The California Dream For All program is a statewide down payment assistance option offered through the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). It was created to help first-time buyers gain access to homeownership through a shared appreciation loan, which reduces upfront costs and increases purchasing power.

What the Dream For All Program Offers

Dream For All provides up to 20% of the home’s purchase price to use toward your down payment and closing costs. This assistance comes as a deferred loan, meaning:

• There are no monthly payments on the assistance portion.

• You repay the loan only when you sell, refinance, or pay off your first mortgage.

• Repayment includes the original loan amount plus a share of the home’s appreciation, based on the percentage of assistance you received.

This allows first-time buyers to enter the market with more competitive offers and lower cash requirements.

Who Qualifies for Dream For All

To be eligible, buyers must meet the following criteria:

• Be a first-time homebuyer (no homeownership in the past 3 years)

• Have at least one first-generation homebuyer in the application

• Have at least one borrower who is a current California resident

• Fall within county-specific income limits

• Work with a CalHFA-approved lender

• Complete required homebuyer education

Because demand is high, applicants enter a lottery system rather than a first-come, first-served model.

What First-Time Buyers Should Expect

If selected, buyers should expect:

• A significant boost in down payment power

• No extra monthly payments

• A repayment structure tied to future appreciation

• A need to competitively prepare paperwork and financing with a CalHFA-approved lender

This program helps bridge the gap for buyers who qualify financially for a mortgage but struggle with the upfront cash required for a home purchase.

Santa Clara County’s Empower Homebuyers Program

Beyond statewide options, Santa Clara County offers its own powerful down payment assistance: the Empower Homebuyers SCC Program, administered by Housing Trust Silicon Valley.

This program focuses specifically on helping local buyers purchase homes within Santa Clara County, where high prices can be a major barrier.

What the Empower Program Offers

Empower provides a shared appreciation, deferred loan of up to:

• 30% of the purchase price,

• not to exceed $250,000,

• with no monthly payments on the assistance portion.

The loan is repaid when the home is sold, refinanced, or reaches the end of the loan term—and repayment also includes a portion of the home’s appreciation, just like the Dream For All structure.

Who Qualifies for Empower

Eligibility generally includes:

• Being a first-time homebuyer

• Purchasing a home within Santa Clara County

• Occupying the home as your primary residence

• Completing a HUD-certified homebuyer education course

• Meeting income limits, typically up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI)

• Contributing at least 3% of the purchase price from your own funds

• Obtaining pre-approval from an approved lender

Because it’s a county-level program, Empower specifically supports local residents looking to buy where they live and work.

Homeownership Is Possible in Santa Clara County

With high home prices, many first-time buyers assume ownership is out of reach—but programs like Dream For All and Empower Homebuyers SCC prove that it’s absolutely possible with the right guidance and financial strategy.

Whether you’re:

• just beginning to explore your options,

• wondering if you qualify, or

• ready to start a conversation with a lender,

we’re here to help you understand how these programs work and what steps you can take to begin your homeownership journey.

If you’re thinking about buying your first home in Santa Clara County, we’d love to walk you through the process and connect you with the right resources. Let’s talk about what’s possible.