December 15, 2025
Program Assists Middle-Income Families to Become Homeowners in the City of
San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA — Becoming a homeowner in the City of San Diego’s high-cost real estate market is closer to reality for middle-income families with assistance available from the San Diego Housing Commission’s (SDHC) Middle-Income First-Time Homebuyer program, in collaboration with the Wells Fargo Foundation.
“This program makes homeownership more accessible by offering financial assistance for our working families,” said City Councilmember Vivian Moreno, a member of the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee and longtime advocate for first-time homebuyer programs. “Due to the high costs of living, many San Diegans can benefit from this assistance with a down payment and closing costs. This eases those hurdles for first-time homebuyers, promotes long-term housing stability, and supports families in District 8 in building investments and securing their financial future. I encourage residents to apply for this program and continue to take advantage of all future homeownership opportunities.”
“Owning a home can be one of the most powerful ways families can build generational wealth and create stability,” said City Councilmember Henry Foster III. “Homeownership should be attainable for all working families in San Diego, not just for a privileged few. By easing financial barriers with down payment and closing costs assistance, this program can open the door to opportunities for working families, strengthen our communities, and help keep San Diegans rooted right here in District 4 and across our city.”
A Wells Fargo Foundation grant funds SDHC’s City of San Diego program, which offers $50,000 in assistance to each eligible middle-income homebuyer—a $40,000 low-interest, deferred-payment loan toward the down payment and a $10,000 grant toward closing costs.
“This program will help middle-income families overcome some of the financial obstacles that may deter them from pursuing homeownership,” SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones said. “Achieving homeownership strengthens ties to the community, builds generational wealth for these families, and frees up housing units they had occupied in the rental housing market for other families who need them.”
The program assists households earning 80 percent to 150 percent of San Diego’s area median income, which varies based on the number of people in a household. For example, a one-person household earning $92,700 to $137,350 per year or a family of four earning $132,400 to $196,200 per year may be eligible for assistance.
Households interested in applying for assistance through the Middle-Income First-Time Homebuyer program should contact a loan officer at one of the participating lenders. A list of loan officers who have completed training for SDHC’s first-time homebuyer programs is available on SDHC’s website at https://www.sdhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SDHC-Participating-Lender-List.pdf
An SDHC Homeownership Advisor is also available to answer questions about first-time homebuyer programs, assess financial preparedness and, as needed, connect callers with counseling agencies that provide the types of services they need to become ready to buy a home. The grant also provides support for the Homeownership Advisor’s activities. Households that want to learn more about available assistance for down payments or closing costs, as well as referrals to programs to prepare for homeownership, such as credit counseling or debt reduction, may call (619) 578-7788 or email homeownership@sdhc.org.
With $3.75 million from the Wells Fargo Foundation, SDHC’s Middle-Income First-Time Homebuyer program will assist middle-income families to achieve homeownership.
Programs for Households with Low Income
SDHC also offers programs to help households with low income (up to 80 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income) to buy a home. The same loan officers at participating lenders are also the primary point of contact for the program for low-income households.
Since 1988, SDHC’s first-time homebuyer programs and affordable for-sale housing programs in the City of San Diego have assisted approximately 6,200 households to become homeowners.
SDHC also administers first-time homebuyer programs for the County of San Diego and the cities of Chula Vista and El Cajon.
Information about all of SDHC’s first-time homebuyer programs is available online at www.sdhc.org/homebuyer.
Connect with SDHC on social media:
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Media Contact:
Scott Marshall,
Vice President of Communications
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7138
scottm@sdhc.org
