About This California Down Payment Assistance Site
Straight, current information on CalHFA and GSFA, from a lender who originates these loans directly, not a lead broker.
Why this site exists
Search "down payment assistance in California" and you will hit pages that quote a Dream For All that closed months ago, assume you must be a first-time buyer, or miss GSFA Platinum entirely. We keep this site current to the actual programs, Dream For All’s funding rounds, GSFA Platinum’s no-first-time-rule grant, and CalHFA MyHome, and we confirm the current amounts and Dream For All status directly with the agencies rather than quote a stale figure. When a program is closed or is not the right fit, we say so.
What we do
- Originate CalHFA and GSFA loans directly, MyHome, Dream For All, and GSFA Platinum, on FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional.
- Match the program to your situation, shared-appreciation vs. grant, first-time vs. repeat, first-generation help.
- Serve California statewide, Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, Sacramento, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire.
- Give honest tradeoff advice, including whether the shared-appreciation trade is right for you.
Who you work with
Mike Certo is a branch manager and licensed mortgage loan officer with Cornerstone First Mortgage (NMLS #260555; company NMLS #173855). He is an approved participating lender for CalHFA and GSFA and closes these loans across the state. This site is an educational resource, not the program administrator; the programs are run by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) and the Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA).
Have a question? Talk to Mike
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your California path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.