You do not need 20% down to buy a home
One of the biggest myths in home buying is the 20% down payment. In reality, most Fresno and Clovis buyers start with far less, and a range of federal, state, and local programs exist to help with the rest. Here is the honest tour of what is out there.
The programs ★ Federal, state, and local
Where the help actually comes from
Assistance falls into three buckets: low-down-payment federal loans, California state programs through CalHFA, and local Fresno-area programs. Most buyers combine more than one. Program details below are a starting point, not a quote; terms change, and we verify the current version when you apply.
FHA loans
Federal Housing Administration
The classic low-down-payment route: as little as 3.5% down with a credit score around 580 or higher. FHA loans are widely available in the Fresno area and pair with many assistance programs.
VA loans
For veterans and eligible service members
Zero down payment and no private mortgage insurance for those who qualify. A strong option for the many veterans and military families in the Central Valley.
USDA Rural Development
For eligible rural areas
100% financing with no down payment in USDA-eligible areas. Some edge and rural parts of Fresno and Madera counties qualify, though many central Clovis neighborhoods do not.
CalHFA MyHome
California Housing Finance Agency
A deferred "silent second" loan of up to 3.5% of the price on FHA loans (3% on conventional, VA, and USDA) to help with the down payment and closing costs. No monthly payment; repaid when the first mortgage is paid off, refinanced, or the home is sold.
California Dream For All
CalHFA shared appreciation loan
Up to 20% down payment assistance, capped at $150,000, for first-time buyers using the Dream For All conventional first mortgage. A portion of the appreciation is shared when the home is sold.
City of Fresno 0% DPA
Fresno Office of Community Affairs
A city program offering zero interest, forgivable down payment loans to qualifying buyers. Applications reopen periodically, so timing and income limits matter. Check the city for the current window.
OpenHome
Fresno Housing, in partnership with U.S. Bank
Up to $25,000 in assistance for qualifying first-time buyers in the Fresno area, subject to income limits and an 8-hour homebuyer education course. Funding pools are limited.
Getting started ★ Where the process begins
How to find the program that fits you
The fastest way to sort through assistance programs is a conversation with a mortgage professional who knows this market. They pull your credit, income, and goals, then match you to the loans and programs you qualify for, in order of which saves you the most.
We keep a short list of local lenders who work with assistance programs every day. Start with us: tell us your situation and we will connect you to the right person, with no obligation and no pressure.
- Most assistance programs are for first-time buyers, though definitions vary by program.
- Income limits apply and are set at the county level; Fresno County limits are generous relative to local prices.
- Credit requirements vary, typically starting in the mid-600s, and some programs allow lower scores.
- Assistance often must pair with a specific first mortgage, like a CalHFA loan.
- Funding windows open and close, and terms change. We verify current details at the time you apply.
A note on accuracy
Down payment assistance programs change often: funding pools close, income limits move, and application windows reopen. Treat this page as the map, not the news. We look up the current details together before you commit to anything.
Think you need help with the down payment?
Tell us where you are in the process and we will connect you with a lender who runs the programs for your situation. Straight answers, no pressure. Talk soon.
Related guide
Fresno County first-time buyer programs
A plain-language rundown of CalHFA MyHome, CalPLUS, Dream For All, Fresno Housing, USDA, VA, and FHA options, including what it usually means to be a first-time buyer.
See the programs