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Why Buying a Home is the Best Investment

Welcome to The Chris Kennedy Team Mortgage Blog

Honest, local, easy-to-understand mortgage guidance for buyers and homeowners across Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties.

Hi — I'm Chris Kennedy. For years, I've helped first-time buyers, veterans, families upsizing into their forever homes, and seasoned investors navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives: getting a mortgage in the greater Sacramento area.

This blog exists for one simple reason. Most mortgage advice online is generic, confusing, or written by people who've never closed a loan in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, or Davis. I wanted to change that.

Every post on this site is written for you — the buyer, homeowner, or veteran trying to make sense of mortgages in a real Northern California market. Real numbers. Real neighborhoods. Real programs that actually work here.

What you'll find on this blog

Whether you're brand new to homebuying or you've owned for decades, you'll find practical, local guidance on every part of the mortgage process. The articles below cover:

For first-time buyers — How to qualify, how much you really need to put down, how to use CalHFA assistance, and how to stop waiting and start owning.

For veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses — Everything you need to know about putting your VA home loan benefit to work in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, and beyond. Zero down. No PMI. The benefit you earned.

For move-up buyers and luxury buyers — Jumbo loan strategies for higher-priced markets like El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Serrano, and Bass Lake — including how to qualify, what reserves you'll need, and how to compete in luxury bidding wars.

For investors and wealth-builders — How to use FHA multi-family loans (yes, with just 3.5% down) to "house hack" your first investment property, plus the long-term wealth-building strategy that real estate quietly delivers better than almost any other investment.

For buyers in rural and semi-rural areas — A breakdown of USDA loans across Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties, where surprisingly large portions of the region qualify for $0-down financing.

For credit-building buyers — How FHA loans help buyers with imperfect credit get into Sacramento-area homes, plus practical credit improvement strategies that actually move the needle.

Why this blog is different

Three things set this content apart:

It's local. Every article names real neighborhoods, real Sacramento-area home prices, and real programs available in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties — not vague national advice.

It's honest. I tell you what works, what doesn't, what the catches are, and when a loan isn't right for you. No high-pressure pitches. No fine print buried at the bottom.

It's actionable. Every post is built so that by the end, you know what to do next — whether that's running numbers, checking eligibility, or starting a conversation.

A little about me

I've spent my career helping Sacramento-area families navigate mortgages — through every kind of market, every kind of loan, and every kind of buyer situation. I've helped:

First-time buyers close with $0–$5,000 out of pocket using FHA + CalHFA strategies
Veterans buy in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, and El Dorado Hills with zero down
Move-up families step into luxury markets using jumbo financing
Investors build long-term wealth through smart house-hacking and refinance strategies
Self-employed borrowers other lenders turned away find creative solutions

My team and I serve the entire greater Sacramento region, including:

Sacramento County — Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Antelope, Natomas
Placer County — Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn, Loomis, Granite Bay
El Dorado County — El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Placerville, Diamond Springs, Pollock Pines
Yolo County — Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters, Esparto

If you're buying anywhere in Northern California, there's a good chance we can help.

Start exploring

Scroll down to find articles tailored to your situation. If you're not sure where to begin, here are three good starting points:

First-time buyer? Start with First-Time Homebuyer Programs in Sacramento.
Veteran or active-duty? Start with VA Home Loans: How Veterans Can Buy a Sacramento-Area Home With $0 Down.
Buying in a higher-priced market? Start with Jumbo Loans in El Dorado Hills.

Ready to talk?

Reading is great — but a 15-minute conversation will tell you more about what's possible for your specific situation than any article ever could. No pressure, no obligation, no salesy follow-up calls.

Chris Kennedy | The Chris Kennedy Team NMLS# 971546 Mortgage Lender serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties www.thechriskennedyteam.com

[CALL NOW] | [GET PRE-APPROVED] | [SEND ME A MESSAGE]

The Chris Kennedy Team specializes in FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, jumbo, and CalHFA loans throughout Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Davis, Woodland, Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin, Cameron Park, and the surrounding Northern California region. Browse the articles below to learn more — or reach out anytime.

Down Payment Assistance in Sacramento (2026): What You Can Actually Use Right Now

Yes — you can still get help with your down payment in Sacramento in 2026, even though California's headline "Dream For All" program is closed for the year. The programs open for business right now are CalHFA's MyHome, the Zero Interest Program (ZIP), and GSFA Platinum — and together they can cover most or all of your down payment and closing costs. Here's what's actually available today, what each one gives you, and how to line up for Dream For All's next round instead of missing it.

First, the honest status of "Dream For All" in 2026

You've probably heard about Dream For All — the program that offers up to 20% of a home's price (capped at $150,000) toward the down payment. It's real, and it's powerful. But here's the part most articles bury: it's a lottery, and the 2026 application window has already closed.

The 2026 registration portal opened February 24 and shut on March 16. After that, CalHFA ran a randomized drawing to hand out vouchers — it is not first-come, first-served, and it's not open for new applications right now. Demand always dwarfs the funding, so many qualified buyers don't get selected.

That doesn't mean you're out of luck. It means two things: (1) there are other programs you can use today, and (2) if Dream For All fits you, the move is to get fully prepared now so you're ready the moment the next window opens (historically early in the year). More on that below.

What you can use right now

1. CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program

MyHome is the workhorse. It's a deferred-payment "silent second" loan — no monthly payment — that helps cover your down payment or closing costs:

• Up to 3.5% of the price on an FHA first mortgage, or 3% on a conventional first mortgage.

• No monthly payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the home.

• Must be paired with a CalHFA first mortgage, and you must be a first-time buyer using the home as your primary residence.

• Homebuyer education course required, plus CalHFA county income limits.

2. CalHFA ZIP (Zero Interest Program)

ZIP tackles the other big cash hurdle — closing costs:

• Up to 3% of your loan amount to cover closing costs.

• Zero interest, deferred until you sell or refinance.

• Pairs with a CalPLUS first mortgage and stacks with MyHome, so you can address the down payment and the closing costs together.

3. GSFA Platinum

GSFA Platinum is the flexible one — and it's not limited to first-time buyers:

• Up to 5.5% of the loan amount toward down payment and/or closing costs.

• Available as a grant (no repayment) in some cases, or as a repayable second in others.

• Works with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans, and is open to repeat buyers too.

• Through a limited 2026 promotional period, the "Select" grant option has been opened to all eligible borrowers (not just specific occupations) — worth checking while it lasts.

The programs side by side

Program

What you get

Repay?

Who qualifies

Main catch

CalHFA MyHome

Up to 3.5% (FHA) / 3% (conv) for down payment or closing

Deferred; repay on sale/refi

First-time buyers

Must use a CalHFA first mortgage

CalHFA ZIP

Up to 3% of loan for closing costs, 0% interest

Deferred

First-time (with CalPLUS)

Closing costs only

GSFA Platinum

Up to 5.5% of loan for down payment / closing

Grant option = no repay

First-time OR repeat

Grant terms vary; verify current promo

Dream For All

Up to 20% / $150,000 (shared appreciation)

Repay original + share of gain

First-time + first-generation

Lottery — closed for 2026

How these stack (and where the free money is)

The real power is combining programs. A common Sacramento setup: a CalHFA first mortgage + MyHome for the down payment + ZIP for closing costs can get a first-time buyer into a home with very little cash out of pocket. Or a GSFA Platinum grant paired with an FHA loan can cover the 3.5% down as money you never repay.

A couple of rules to know: you generally cannot combine MyHome with Dream For All on the same purchase, but you can pair either one with ZIP for closing costs. The right combination depends on your income, your credit, and which first mortgage fits you best.

Who qualifies

• First-time buyer for most CalHFA programs — meaning you haven't owned a home in the last three years. (GSFA Platinum is the exception; repeat buyers welcome.)

• Income limits apply and vary by county and program. Sacramento-area limits are generous enough that many working households qualify.

• Credit: CalHFA programs generally look for around a 660 score (FHA-paired) to 680 (conventional-paired); GSFA Platinum starts around 640.

• Homebuyer education is required — CalHFA accepts the eHome eight-hour online course (about $100) or HUD-approved counseling.

What this looks like in Sacramento

Here's why this matters locally. With the City of Sacramento's median price in the mid-$400s to around $500,000, a 3.5% down payment is roughly $16,000–$18,000 — a real number, but one that assistance programs can shoulder most or all of. That's the difference between "someday" and "this year" for a lot of Sacramento renters watching their rent climb while they save.

How to get "Dream For All ready" for the next round

If Dream For All is your best shot (first-time AND first-generation buyer), don't wait for the window to open to get organized. When the next lottery opens, the buyers who win and actually close are the ones who prepared early:

1. Get a full pre-approval from a CalHFA-approved lender now — a required piece of the application.

2. Confirm you meet the first-time and first-generation definitions and your county's income limit.

3. Complete your homebuyer education course early so it's done and out of the way.

4. Gather your documents (ID, parent information for the first-generation requirement) so you can register the day the portal opens.

A quick note on 2026 program terms

Down payment assistance programs change their funding, percentages, and eligibility frequently. The figures here reflect published terms as of July 2026: MyHome up to 3.5% (FHA) / 3% (conventional), ZIP up to 3%, and GSFA Platinum up to 5.5% with a limited-time expanded grant option. Dream For All's 2026 lottery window (Feb 24 – Mar 16) has closed.

Because funding pools and rules can shift mid-year, confirm current availability, income limits, and grant terms for your county before counting on any specific program.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply for Dream For All in 2026?

No — the 2026 application window closed on March 16, and it's a randomized lottery, not first-come. If it fits you, prepare now so you're ready when the next round opens. In the meantime, MyHome, ZIP, and GSFA Platinum are open.

Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?

It depends on the program. CalHFA MyHome and ZIP are deferred loans you repay when you sell or refinance. GSFA Platinum can be a true grant you never repay. Dream For All is repaid with a share of your home's appreciation.

Can I use assistance with an FHA or VA loan?

Yes. GSFA Platinum works with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. CalHFA MyHome pairs with CalHFA's FHA or conventional first mortgages. Veterans with VA eligibility often need little or no help since VA is already zero-down.

What's a 'first-generation' homebuyer?

For Dream For All, it generally means you haven't owned a home (or been on a mortgage) in the last seven years, and your parents don't currently own a home in the U.S. Individuals who've been in foster care also qualify. It's a stricter bar than 'first-time.'

How much money do I really need to bring?

With the right stack of programs, some Sacramento first-time buyers close with very little out of pocket — sometimes just their earnest money and inspection fees. The exact number depends on your loan, price, and which programs you qualify for.

Want to know which programs you actually qualify for?

Down payment assistance is a puzzle — the right combination depends on your income, credit, and price range, and the pieces change through the year. A quick conversation can map out exactly what's open to you right now and get you positioned for Dream For All's next round if it's your best fit.

Call or text: (916) 794-0777

thechriskennedyteam.com

The Chris Kennedy Team at Reliant Lending | NMLS #971546. Serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rates, loan limits, and program terms referenced are current as of July 2026 and are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend.

Chris KennedyJuly 14, 2026Comment

Sacramento Housing Blog