By Aradhana Bhandary, REALTOR® (About Aradhana: /about-aradhana). Published: July 16, 2026. Compare Fresno first-time buyer grants and down payment assistance, eligibility, repayment rules and application steps. Confirm current funding with each program.
Buying your first home can feel like a big step. Down payment help may be one part of your plan. Start with a lender who works with these programs, then look for a home that fits your budget and your life. Here is a simple guide to the options for Fresno buyers.
Funding, income limits and availability change. Confirm the current rules and available funds with the program and a participating lender before making an offer. Published maximums are limits, not promised awards or savings; approval is not guaranteed.
| Program | Grant or loan | Published maximum | Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalHFA MyHome | Loan with interest; payments delayed | FHA: 3.5%; conventional: 3% of the lower of price or appraised value | Yes; not forgivable |
| GSFA Platinum | Second loan; some options include a gift | Standard: up to 5% of first loan; some eligible options: up to 5.5% | Loan: yes. Gift: no |
| WISH | Matching grant with conditions | 4-to-1 match, up to $32,837 | May repay under retention rules |
| Bank of America | Down Payment Grant and closing-cost lender credit | Grant: 3% of price, up to $10,000. Credit: up to $7,500 | No repayment under published terms |
| Program | Grant or loan | Published maximum | Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Fresno MAP | 0% forgivable second loan; payments delayed | Up to $100,000 | May repay before the 15-year term ends |
| Fresno County | Not active. Confirmed with Fresno County Community Development, October 2026. | None currently | Not applicable |
| OpenHome | Grant; no property lien | Up to $10,000 or $7,500 by income tier | No repayment under published terms |
MyHome helps with down payment or closing costs when you use a CalHFA first mortgage. It is a loan with simple interest, even though payments are delayed. It is not forgiven. You generally must be a first-time buyer, live in the home, meet income and loan rules, and complete accepted education. The MyHome handbook, updated October 19, 2026, explains the details. Ask a CalHFA-approved lender about the current rate and a funding reservation.
GSFA Platinum serves first-time and repeat buyers purchasing a main home in California with a program mortgage. Standard help is a 15-year second loan with monthly payments and the same interest rate as the first mortgage. Select and Assist-to-Own have different loan and possible gift parts, with extra eligibility rules. The 5.5% maximum is not for every buyer or loan. A participating lender can explain the government-loan terms or conventional terms and confirm the option available to you.
WISH matches an eligible contribution 4 to 1, up to $32,837. Its 2026 round has $13 million in program funding. Buyers must meet first-time-buyer rules, have income at or below 80% of HUD area median income, and complete required counseling. Apply through a participating member lender, not directly to FHLBank. The participation rules and payment rules explain reservations. Enrollment alone does not guarantee money for your purchase.
Bank of America offers a Down Payment Grant for eligible first-time buyers in select markets and America's Home Grant, a lender credit for certain one-time closing costs or a qualifying permanent rate reduction. The credit cannot cover a down payment. Both require an eligible Bank of America mortgage and have location, income, loan and live-in-home rules. Not every Fresno address qualifies. The Down Payment Grant may be taxable income, with a 1099-MISC issued. Review the detailed rules with a lending specialist.
The City has announced that MAP is closed. Its published guidelines describe a 15-year, 0% forgivable second loan with no monthly payments. The amount depends on the financing gap and eligible costs. Buyers need income at or below 80% of area median income, a home inside Fresno city limits, first-time-buyer status, accepted education and a participating lender. Previous City assistance recipients cannot use MAP again. These city rules do not cover homes in Clovis or Madera.
Fresno County's down payment assistance program is not active. This was confirmed with Fresno County Community Development in October 2026, even though the County's housing page still describes the old program. Beyond Housing Foundation's OpenHome says applications are closed. OpenHome's published terms describe a no-repayment grant without a lien for eligible first-time buyers in Fresno or Madera County, in a qualifying census tract. Its income tiers have maximums of $10,000 or $7,500. Check back with each program before including this help in your budget.
ReCoverCA helps people affected by specific California disasters, not everyone buying in Fresno. Fire loan terms allow up to $350,000; flood help has a $300,000 maximum. Fresno’s 2020 fire rules require a disaster-time home in a high or very high fire-hazard zone, plus income, asset, property and loan eligibility. 2017 funds are fully allocated; a January 2026 2018 notice lists funds for reservation. Ask about current 2020 funds. The flood policy lists an October 21, 2026 deadline, now past. HCD lists the overall program open, but schedules differ and conflict. A ReCoverCA lender should confirm your allocation’s rules and deadline.
Sometimes. WISH can work with other help, and Bank of America allows its two offers to be combined for eligible buyers. Do not add up all the maximums as your budget. Ask the lender and each program to approve the exact mix and reserve the funds.
Some loans compete for the same place behind your first mortgage, called second lien position. MAP and MyHome both require that position; MyHome also requires a CalHFA first mortgage. MAP limits combined secured debt to 100% of the sales price. ReCoverCA's fire rules require second position and do not allow third liens. Those rules can prevent a combination.
Ask about repayment before you accept help. A delayed payment is not the same as a gift.
CalHFA's homeowner FAQ explains that MyHome is not forgivable. Its balance and simple interest can become due when you sell, refinance the first mortgage, transfer title or reach the loan's end, among other events. GSFA Platinum loan parts also have sale, refinance and first-mortgage payoff triggers.
MAP can require repayment if you sell, transfer title, stop living in the home or take cash out when refinancing during its 15-year period. Sale repayment depends on the program rules and available net proceeds. WISH retention rules may require repayment after certain sales, transfers or refinances. Bank of America's offers and OpenHome's grant terms say no repayment.
ReCoverCA's fire second loan is 0% with no monthly payments; 20% is forgiven for each 12 months of qualifying owner occupancy. Leaving or selling early can mean repaying the remaining amount. An approved refinance without cash out may be allowed. Read the signed terms for any help before selling, renting out the home or refinancing.
1. Talk with a participating lender. Check your mortgage budget, program rules, current income limits and property area. Ask whether funds can be reserved.
2. Finish education accepted by your chosen program. Community Housing Council offers counseling and education. The City's Llaves De Tu Casa initiative is an education resource, not a separate grant. Self-Help's Equity Boost is another mortgage product to discuss with its lender, not a grant; ask about current intake.
3. Gather the requested income, asset and household records. Missing papers, income above a program limit, an ineligible home, unaccepted education or conflicting loan terms can delay or prevent help.
4. Check the home and offer timeline with your lender. MAP requires City property review and a lender-submitted package. Incomplete packages do not receive a place in the review queue. Its guidelines allow up to 30 days for City approval when intake is open, not a guaranteed 30-day closing.
5. Confirm funds and closing conditions in writing. WISH's 45-day processing target is for member reimbursement after closing, not your approval before closing. Ask who provides the money at closing. There is no single guaranteed timeline for every program.
You do not need to sort through every program alone. Contact Aradhana for help finding a participating lender and planning your home search. She helps buyers compare homes in Fresno, Clovis and Madera, with support in English, Hindi and Nepali. The lender and program decide eligibility and funding.
Explore the first-time home buyer guide or try the mortgage calculator. Call (559) 320-5525 or email aradhana@aluisi.com. Aradhana Bhandary, REALTOR®, Aluisi Real Estate, California DRE #02121126.
Aradhana Bhandary is a REALTOR® (California DRE #02121126) with Aluisi Real Estate, working as Selling Central California and serving buyers, sellers, and relocating clients throughout Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Fresno County, and the greater Central Valley. She is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) and a physician relocation specialist. Read her full profile at /about-aradhana or get in touch at /#contact.