A grant toward your down payment for first-time buyers under their county's income limit - no lottery, no waiting list, because it comes from us.
Most down payment assistance means applications, waiting lists, or lottery windows. Smart Start is different: it's our own program, so qualifying happens right in your pre-approval. If you're a first-time buyer at or below your county's income limit (or buying in a qualifying area), the grant is applied toward your down payment - structured so the program covers a meaningful share of your down payment while you bring only a small portion of your own funds on qualifying loans. Caps and terms apply and change periodically; I'll walk you through the current program sheet in plain English.
Recently I was able to apply a Smart Start grant for a buyer who hadn't even asked about assistance - they simply qualified. That's the point of working with a lender who checks every file against every program.
Smart Start can often combine with seller credits and other assistance. Pair it with the county and state programs on my Down Payment Assistance guide and the cash you need at closing can shrink dramatically. Book a free consult and we'll see what your stack looks like.
Every real program serving Contra Costa County - CalHFA, WISH, AHOP, Smart Start and more - and how they stack.
15% down with no monthly mortgage insurance for qualifying buyers.
Unlock your equity to buy your next home first - no double move, no contingent offer.