Down Payment Assistance

Down Payment Assistance

Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs provide financial support to help homebuyers cover the upfront costs of purchasing a home—most commonly the down payment, and sometimes closing costs as well. These programs are designed to reduce one of the biggest barriers to homeownership and are offered by government agencies, nonprofits, and some lenders.

Flee Kieselhorst and her child moving into their new home purchased with AST CalHome down payment assistance for first-time, artist homeowners. Image by C. Wagner Photography

AST + NCLT CalHome DPA Program

Artist Space Trust (AST), in partnership with Northern California Land Trust (NCLT), offers CalHome down payment assistance (DPA) funded through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

CalHome DPA is designed to help lower-income, first-time homebuyers purchase homes (single-family home, townhome, or condominium) in Alameda County. This assistance is offered as a low-interest second mortgage with no monthly payments, subject to certain restrictions.

As of July 2025, AST has successfully awarded two artist households with a total of $350,000 in CalHome DPA through our partnership with NCLT.

A new round of CalHome down payment assistance allocations will open up in August, 2025. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date for the next round of funding.

Find out about our joint CalHome DPA Program by visiting NCLT’s Housing Page.

Other Down Payment Assistance

When possible, AST provides down payment assistance to low income qualifying, first time, artist homebuyers on specific AST properties. 

Who is Elligible?

Each program has its own requirements. AST’s general criteria is as follows:

  • Be a first-time homebuyer

  • Be a practicing Artist

  • Meet income limits (at 80% AMI or below )

  • Buy in the target area

  • Complete a homebuyer education course