12/10/2025-First Time Homebuyer and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation funding has expired and is not currently available. Please check back for future opportunities.
Cal Home 21 Program Highlights
- (7) First Time Homebuyers assisted with a total of $803,000.00 in loans provided
- (1) Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation loan provided in the amount of $44,493.22
9/27/2024 - First Time Homebuyer and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation funding still available!
- FTHB assistance is aimed at providing financial support to help families purchase their first home. This program provides low interest rate loans to help with down payment and closing costs. Applicant must be able to qualify for a first mortgage loan.
- OOR assistance is aimed at assisting low- to moderate-income homeowners who currently live in their homes with necessary repairs for health and life safety and that preserve and extend the useful life of the home itself (no remodels). Oftentimes, families can afford to buy a home, but cannot afford the expensive repairs - such as leaking roofs, failed water heaters, or broken heating/air conditioning systems - that inevitably come with homeownership.
- These funds can also be used to construct new or rehabilitate/repair existing Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs (more commonly known as "granny units") on residential properties within the City limits where a "primary" home already exists. Please inquire with the City of Merced Planning Department to find out the Zoning requirements for construction of new ADUs (phone: 209-385-6858, or email: planning@cityofmerced.gov).
Who to Contact:
The City of Merced is partnering with Self Help Enterprises to help us get these new programs up and running and to administer them, which includes working directly with City residents on qualifying for FTHB funding, overseeing OOR projects, and more.
City of Merced residents can reach Self Help Enterprises at: phone 559-802-1647
Steps to qualify for CalHome First Time Home Buyer Assistance:
- Get pre-approved by a mortgage lender
- Must not exceed HUD income limits (limited to low- to moderate-income residents)
- Must not have owned a home within the last three years
