(619) 977-7777 kevin@reef-realty.com

Don’t Miss Out on the California Dream

California is giving out free money! Yes, it’s true! The California Housing Finance Agency (“CalHFA”) has designed a brand new program called the California Dream for All Program (“DFA”) to help low- and moderate-income households purchase a home in California. This is a brand new program that goes in to effect March 2023. No down payment? No problem! CalHFA is going to invest in a home with you by contributing up to a 20% down payment toward your purchase of a new home. And you don’t have to make ANY payments on that money. If you sell, transfer or refinance the home, then you pay back the amount that CalHFA loaned plus 20% of the actual appreciation of the home. You keep 80% of that appreciation! A summary of the program is below. So if you know someone with:
  1. A minimum 680 credit score
  2. Makes $211k or less per year
  3. Wants to buy a house
  4. Doesn’t have a down payment
… this is the program for them! Click here to receive the CalHFA Disclosure Statement and DFA Handbook for your review. Very exciting news for new home buyers!

California Dreams for All Loan (“DFA”) Program Summary

  • https://www.calhfa.ca.gov/dream/index.htm
  • First time buyer down-payment assistance program
    • Must not have owned real property in the last 3 years
    • Available for owner-occupied purchases only
    • Can qualify if you’ve owned property in last 3 years but it’s been rented
  • Funds available in initial roll-out of program: $500M over 2 years
    • Funds anticipated to be fully deployed prior to 2-year period
    • Demand most likely will exceed available funds
    • Funds only available until exhausted
  • Program start date: March 28, 2023
  • Program provides up to 20% down payment on borrowers behalf in the form of a “shared appreciation loan”
    • Loan comes in the form of a “Silent Second”, meaning that there are no monthly payments required
    • Loan payback required upon:
      • Sale
      • Refinance
      • Transfer of title
  • Borrower must pay back:
    • Initial principal amount
    • Plus equity share (20% of actual appreciation)
      • Borrower keeps 80% of appreciation
  • Must be paired with CalHFA first mortgage
    • No mortgage limit / determined by your Debt to Income Ratios (“DTI”)
    • $211k max earnings to qualify
  • Designed for low to moderate income households
    • Based on AMI (Area Median Income)
      • Check AMI limits here: HomeReady® Look Up Tool
It’s a little nuanced, so if you have questions and want to talk about it, call me any time.

Interest Rate Cuts Ahead? What It Could Mean for You

  I came across a headline today: “Fed Rate Cut Grows More Likely as Inflation Holds Steady at 2.7%.” Naturally, that raises the million-dollar question for consumers: What does this mean for me? In real estate, timing is everything — or at least we like to...

Ah yes, the good old “Price Improvement.”

Lately, I’ve been getting flooded with emails from agents excitedly announcing a “Price Improvement” on their listings. Let’s be honest— for whom exactly is this an improvement? Certainly not the seller. It’s not a price improvement; it’s a price reduction. Call it...

Granny Flats, Tiny Homes and ADUs: The essential guide

ADUs (or accessory dwelling units) are the hot topic in real estate, but what are they worth?  Illustrative story: A homebuyer recently commented that he had “overpaid” by $100,000 for a home that had a tiny home in the backyard. Did he? It depends on what he meant...

The 10 most common Title issues

These are 10 most common title issues that could cost you money down the road and possibly put your ownership rights at risk.  They could also blow up your current real estate transaction.  Make sure your agent reviews and explains your title report with you....

how much is my home worth

How Much Is My House Worth?

How Much Is My House Worth? It’s a simple question—one that many tech companies want you to believe has a simple answer. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. There’s a quick way to get a number, and then there’s the right way to determine your...

Government bans from medical debt from your credit report

News ain’t always sexy but still very relevant to many. Did you know…. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), there is over $88 billion in outstanding medical bills currently in collections across the nation—a number that has significant...