Tehama County
Welcome County of Tehama Employees
Learn More about the "Assist-to-Own" Down Payment Assistance Program
Down payment is often the biggest hurdle for homebuyers in California, especially in rural areas! We are here to help make your dreams of purchasing a home a reality with financial assistance that makes homebuying easier and more affordable.
The “Assist-to-Own” Program was developed to enhance the existing GSFA Platinum Program by offering additional benefits to individuals employed by the County of Yolo (or any other GSFA Member County). Qualifying employees can use Assist-to-Own to purchase or refinance a property anywhere in California, as long as it will be their primary residence.
This program helps individuals and families buy a home—often sooner than they thought possible—by providing Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance (DPA) of up to 5.5% of the First Mortgage Loan amount. Its flexible guidelines allow applicants with less-than-perfect credit, and first-time homebuyer status is not required. In addition, program income limits are higher than many expect, giving more families the opportunity to take advantage of this assistance.
No Interest, No Monthly Payments on the Assistance
Assist-to-Own’s benefits extend beyond flexible qualifying guidelines. The DPA is provided as a deferred Second Mortgage equal to 3.5% of the First Mortgage loan amount. This Second Mortgage carries a zero percent interest rate, which means no interest accrues and no monthly payments are required. It is repaid to GSFA only upon sale or refinance of the First Mortgage, with no additional interest.
This structure helps affordability by reducing upfront costs and keeping monthly mortgage payments lower, allowing you to move into your home sooner and manage it comfortably with less out-of-pocket cash.
Additional Resources
Program Highlights(1)
- Available to both first-time and repeat homebuyers
- Eligible properties include 1–4 unit primary residences, condos, townhomes, and certain manufactured homes
- Credit challenges? No problem—minimum FICO score of just 640
- Generous Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratios up to 50% may qualify
- Low-to-moderate income limits – often higher than expected
- FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional Mortgage Loan options available
- Purchase a primary residence anywhere in California
Join us for a Special Webinar
October 23, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 PM PDT
Click the image below to register to attend.
Ready to Apply?
If you are a homebuyer interested in applying for any of the GSFA down payment assistance programs, reach out to one of the GSFA Participating Lenders. Our Lenders will explain program guidelines, provide interest rates and APRs, look into your finances and help you make the right decision for your specific situation and needs.
(1) The GSFA Assist-to-Own Program is made possible and administered by Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA), a duly constituted public entity and agency in California. Employment with a GSFA Member County is required for participation in the Program. County of Tehama is a GSFA Member County and therefore employees of County of Tehama are eligible to apply for the Program.
This page contains general program information, is not an offer for extension of credit nor a commitment to lend and is subject to change without notice. Complete program guidelines, loan applications, interest rates and annual percentage rates (APRs) are available through GSFA Participating Lender, as listed here on the GSFA website.
Cover photo by Janice Mehan, Tehama County.