By David Delgado, Freedom Choice Lending

Homeownership is the foundation for building wealth, stability, and legacy. Yet in California, soaring home prices and steep down payments put that dream out of reach for many first-time buyers. That’s exactly why the 2026 Dream For All Shared Appreciation Grant Program is a game-changer — and why I, David Delgado, am proud to partner offering this amazing program with Freedom Choice Lending, with our experience is an honor to help you make this work for you.

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What Is the Dream For All Program?

The Dream For All program is a down payment assistance mechanism structured as a shared appreciation loan (or “grant-style” support) through California’s housing finance system (CalHFA). In short:

• Eligible buyers can receive up to 20% of the home’s purchase price, or $150,000 maximum, to use toward down payment and/or closing costs.
• The assistance comes as a deferred loan with no monthly payments required during the life of your first mortgage.
• When you sell, refinance (in many cases), or pay off the first mortgage, you repay the original down payment assistance plus a share of the home’s appreciation.
• For lower-income borrowers (≤ 80% of area median income), the program shares appreciation at a reduced rate (0.75:1) instead of full 1:1.
• The program requires that at least one borrower be a first-generation homebuyer (i.e. their parents did not own a home) and all borrowers be first-time buyers (not having owned a home in the past 3 years).

In effect, the state is investing in your home by helping you with the upfront cost — and in return, when your home appreciates, you share a proportional return.

What’s New (2026)?

While the original Dream For All program rounds opened and closed rapidly due to high demand, here’s what’s expected and how Freedom Choice Lending can help:

1. Reopening with an Improved Structure
   Previous funding rounds were oversubscribed and used first-come, first-serve systems. To promote fairness, future rounds are anticipated to use a lottery / voucher selection mechanism to distribute assistance more equitably.
2. Grant Framing
   Although the mechanism is technically a loan, it functions more like a grant for many — because you don’t pay anything monthly, and you only repay when liquidity (home sale or refinance) allows.
3. Better Targeting & Equity Goals
   CalHFA and state leaders have signaled greater emphasis on underserved communities, first-generation buyers, and geographic balance to reduce racial wealth gaps in homeownership.
4. Updated Income & County Limits
   The income ceilings and qualifying thresholds will be revised each year to reflect housing costs locally. The 2025 limits (as a benchmark) range from $148,000 in some rural counties to $295,000 in places like San Francisco or Marin.
5. Freedom Choice Lending as Your Partner
   At Freedom Choice Lending, we have trained staff and processes in place to help you navigate the application, coordinate with CalHFA, and ensure all eligibility and documentation are ready — increasing your chances of being selected and closing successfully.

Why It’s a Big Deal for You

Massive Upfront Leverage
Getting 20% or up to $150K in help dramatically reduces what you need to bring to closing, making homeownership accessible sooner.

No Monthly Burden
Because the assistance is deferred until sale or refinance, you don’t carry extra payments. This helps with cash flow and affordability.

Shared Growth, Not Risk Alone
If home values go up, you share the gain — fair. But if values stagnate or decline, your downside is limited. (You still repay the original assistance amount.)

Intergenerational Equity
By opening doors for first-generation buyers, this program helps break cycles where homeownership has historically been passed down — it’s about expanding access and long-term wealth building.

Who Qualifies & What You Need to Do

Here’s a checklist to see if you might be eligible:

Criteria	What You Must Meet
First-time buyer	No ownership in the past 3 years (or never owned)
First-generation buyer (at least one)	Your parents did not own a home in the U.S.
Income caps	At or below the county’s AMI-based limit (varies by location)
Credit & debt metrics	Meets lender’s standards (often 660–680 min credit score, <45% debt-to-income)
Primary residence	Must live in the home, owner-occupied property

Steps to take:

1. Get prequalified with a CalHFA-approved lender (like us).
2. Keep your financial documents ready (taxes, paystubs, assets).
3. When the registration period opens (watch for CalHFA announcements), sign up for the voucher lottery.
4. If selected, lock in your first mortgage and use the Dream For All funds toward your down payment.
5. Complete the home purchase and close!

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Things to Watch Out For / Caveats

• Shared appreciation repaid — you’ll return a share of the home’s appreciation when selling or refinancing.
• Competition & lottery risk — not all who apply will be selected. Being prepared and ready helps.
• Geographic & selection limits — funds may be allocated regionally to ensure fairness.
• Refinancing restrictions — some refinance or cash-out actions may trigger repayment of the assistance funds.

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Final Thoughts

The 2026 Dream For All Shared Appreciation Grant Program has the potential to transform homeownership access in California — especially for those who never had a “leg up” from generational wealth. At Freedom Choice Lending, I’m committed to helping you understand, plan, and succeed in taking advantage of this opportunity.

If you’re dreaming of owning your first home — and want a guide who’s been in your corner — let’s talk. Together, we’ll navigate the program timeline, eligibility, and make sure your application is as strong as possible.

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David Delgado – NMLS #349079
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