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Call (916) 436-3776First-Time Buyer Los Angeles County
How Do I Buy My First Home in Los Angeles County in 2026?
To buy your first home in Los Angeles County in 2026, you'll typically need a 3.5% FHA down payment on a median-priced home near $845,000, but county and state down payment assistance programs can cover most or all of it. Get pre-approved with a participating lender, confirm which assistance program fits your income, and target neighborhoods where those dollars stretch furthest.
Los Angeles County first-time buyer snapshot (2026)
~$845,000
Median home price, LA County (spring 2026)
$1,209,750
2026 FHA loan limit, single-family, LA County
3.5% down
Minimum with FHA, assistance can cover it
2% to 3%
Closing costs (≈$17K to $25K on an $845K home)
Figures reflect 2026 market and program data and change over time; your lender confirms current limits and eligibility. Serve First Realty is a licensed California brokerage, not a lender, we help you find and buy the home.
Down payment assistance programs for LA County buyers
The single biggest barrier for first-time buyers in Los Angeles isn't the monthly payment: it's the cash needed up front. Several programs across city, county, and state levels exist to bridge that gap, and some of them stack together. Here are the ones active in 2026:
CalHFA MyHome Assistance
A statewide silent-second loan of about 3% (conventional) or 3.5% (FHA) of the purchase price, designed to pair with your first mortgage to cover the down payment or closing costs.
GSFA Platinum
Up to roughly 5% to 5.5% in assistance, and notably not restricted to first-time buyers, a strong option if you've owned before and are re-entering the market.
City of LA, LIPA & MIPA (LAHD)
For homes inside Los Angeles city limits, the Housing Department's Low- and Moderate-Income Purchase Assistance programs offer sizable deferred loans (LIPA up to roughly $161,000) toward down payment, closing, and acquisition. Requires an 8-hour homebuyer education class and a minimum 1% contribution from your own funds.
LA County, LACDA Homeownership Program (HOP80 / HOP120)
For the wider county including unincorporated areas and cities like San Dimas, La Verne, and Temple City: a shared-equity second mortgage up to roughly $85,000 to $100,000 depending on your income tier, with payments deferred until you sell, transfer, or refinance.
Important for 2026: the California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan is closed, it exhausted its funding with no confirmed reopening. Don't plan your purchase around it; focus on the funded programs above.
One family. Two ways we help.
The loan and the home, handled together
Buying your first home usually means two jobs at once: getting the financing right and finding the home. Serve First Realty handles the real estate side, and our affiliated company Ashlar Lending Inc. (NMLS #2699657) is a mortgage brokerage that can help you get pre-approved, compare loan options, and structure down payment assistance so your programs actually stack. It’s one coordinated team from pre-approval to keys, the financing and the search moving together. (Serve First Realty is a real estate brokerage, not a lender; loan terms and eligibility are determined by the lender.)
Your first-time buyer path in Los Angeles County
Get pre-approved with a participating lender
Assistance programs require a specific approved lender. Getting pre-approved first tells you your real budget and which programs you qualify for, before you fall for a house.
Match your income to the right program
City limits vs. unincorporated county changes which program applies. We help you confirm whether a target home qualifies before you write an offer.
Target neighborhoods where DPA stretches
Assistance dollars go further at the lower end of the market. In a county this large, the right ZIP can be the difference between qualifying and being priced out.
Write a strong, well-timed offer
LA homes move in roughly 18 days. Well-priced listings still draw competition, so a clean pre-approval and an agent who knows the local comps matter.
Free calculator
Home Affordability Calculator
Estimate your price range, including down-payment assistance.
See what you can affordFrequently asked questions
How much do I need to buy a first home in Los Angeles County?
With FHA financing you need 3.5% down, and assistance programs can cover most or all of it. On a $700,000 home that's about $24,500 down, plus 2% to 3% closing costs. Programs like CalHFA MyHome and LACDA HOP can bring eligible buyers close to zero out-of-pocket on the down payment.
What is the FHA loan limit in LA County for 2026?
$1,209,750 for a single-family home. That covers most of the county's market, letting many buyers combine 3.5%-down FHA financing with down payment assistance.
Is the California Dream For All program still available?
No, it's closed as of 2026 with no confirmed reopening date. Focus on currently funded programs: CalHFA MyHome, GSFA Platinum, the City of LA's LIPA/MIPA, and LACDA's county HOP.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get assistance?
For most programs, "first-time" means you haven't owned a home in the past three years. Some options like GSFA Platinum don't strictly require first-time status, which helps buyers re-entering the market.
What credit score do I need?
Many programs look for a middle FICO around 660, though FHA can go lower with compensating factors. Your score also sets your rate, a 0.5% difference on a $700,000 loan is roughly $250/month.
Buying your first home in LA County? Let's talk.
Serve First Realty Inc. is a licensed California real estate brokerage serving buyers across Los Angeles County and the state.
California DRE# 02133513
First-time buyer guides for nearby areas
Or start with the statewide overview: California First-Time Buyer Guide.
More guides for this area: all Los Angeles County real estate guides.